Groves man sued after alleged drunk driving crash

An Orange County man accuses a Groves driver of negligence for allegedly driving drunk and causing a crash. 

Allan Sauberan filed a lawsuit against Rafael Moreno on Aug. 18 in Jefferson County District Court. 

According to the complaint, Moreno was driving intoxicated Jan. 20 when he crashed into Sauberan's vehicle. Sauberan says he was seriously hurt in the collision. The lawsuit does not provide any details about what led to the crash or the specific location where it happened. 

Sauberan accuses Moreno of negligence for allegedly operating a vehicle while impaired, driving at a "dangerous and high rate of speed," failing to maintain a safe stopping distance and failing to stop for police. 

Sauberan seeks an unspecified amount of money in damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, medical expenses and lost wages. Sauberan contends Moreno acted with "conscious indifference to the rights, safety or welfare" of others, so he is also requesting punitive damages. 

Attorney Sandee L. Hart, of Orange, represents Sauberan. They request a jury trial.

Jefferson County District Court case number: A196-018

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it represents only one side of the story.