Two women claim they lost their son and brother after he struck a recreational vehicle whose driver had lost control and stopped across two lanes of traffic.
Robert L. Leyendecker and Portia Leyendecker filed a lawsuit Sept. 12 in Jefferson County District Court against Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Co. of Texas doing business as Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., Gordon Buchleiter, Jerry Buchleiter, Cynthia Chandler and Larry Chandler.
Roberta L. Leyendecker and Portia Leyendecker claim their son and brother, Barry W. Leyendecker, drove a 2007 Dodge Ram pickup north on Highway 69 when he encountered a 1992 Chevrolet pickup that was towing a recreational vehicle.
“The defendants were operating this ‘combined unit’ south bound on Highway 69 in or near Zavalla, Angelina County, Texas, when they lost control, causing the combined unit to enter into and block both north and south bound lanes of Highway 69,” the suit states. “Without any warning to stop or avoid the ‘combined unit,’ which was blocking both lanes, Barry W. Leyendecker crashed into it.”
Because of the collision, Barry W. Leyendecker died, according to the complaint.
Due to Barry W. Leyendecker’s death, his son, Christopher Leyendecker, suffered mental anguish and lost his father’s companionship and society, the complaint says.
The Leyendeckers say defendants Gordon Buchleiter, who was driving the Chevrolet, and Jerry Buchleiter, who was driving the RV owned by the Chandlers, lost control of the vehicles, causing the collision.
They also name Texas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. as a defendant, saying it should pay for monetary damages incurred in the collision.
In their complaint, the Leyendeckers seek punitive and exemplary damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest at the legal rate, attorney’s fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.
Ernest Bo Hopmann III of the Law Offices of Ernest Bo Hopmann III in Houston will be representing them.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. B192-655
Man's family sues RV driver after collision causes death
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