GALVESTON - Houston residents Cristofer Mayorquin, Hilda Gutierrez and Francis Zepeda are suing League City local John A. Riccardi over a two-vehicle accident two years ago in Colorado County, recent court documents say.
A lawsuit filed Oct. 17 in Galveston County District Court claims Riccardi caused the Oct. 16, 2011, wreck in question just outside of Columbus.
Prior to the accident, Mayorquin was driving a gold 2001 Nissan Maxima with Gutierrez and Zepeda as his passengers on I-10 East while Riccardi, who drove a gray 2004 Honda Civic, was directly behind them.
The suit states that the plaintiffs came to a stop because of traffic only for the defendant to strike their Maxima and push it forward "into the vehicle ahead."
Each complainant suffered "serious, painful and debilitating" injuries as a result, according to the original petition.
They blame Riccardi for:
- Failing to timely apply the brakes;
- Failing to maintain a proper lookout;
- Failing to take proper evasive action; and
- Failing to control speed.
Consequently, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages.
They are represented by attorney Corey Gomel of Gomel & Associates, P.C. in Houston.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.
Case No. 13-CV-1321