Jury selection began Sept. 21 in an automobile collision trial being held at the Beaumont courthouse.
Elbert and Karen Choate filed suit against Donald Plummer, Vanguard Car Rental USA and National Care Rental US on July 21, 2008 in Jefferson County District Court.
Erick Allen and Bertrand Ceasar were also named as defendants in the original petition.
According to the petition, on Aug. 25, 2006, the Choates were in an automobile collision with Plummer, who was driving a rental car owned by the company defendants.
The plaintiffs were traveling west on I-10 in Beaumont and had slowed to avoid a collision with a rolling dump truck, that had been abandoned on the interstate by Allen and was owned by Ceaser, when Plummer struck them from behind, according to the original petition.
Court records show that on Sept. 18 that Plummer offered Karen Choate, who is now representing Elbert’s estate, a $25,000 settlement.
Karen Choate is being represented by Eric Newel of Brent Coon & Associates.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, is presiding over the trial.
Case No. E182-097