Tuesday 24 March 2015

Lawsuit filed over 2013 collision with deputy


A lawsuit has been filed in Thurston County Superior Court against Grays Harbor County for an accident in July 2013 involving a commuter and a Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Deputy.


On July 8, 2013, Rikki L. Meneely of Aberdeen was driving home from work in Ocean Shores when then-Deputy Richard S. Cork crossed the center line in a county-owned 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe and struck Meneely’s 2002 Kia Sportage on Highway 109 about 10 miles north of Hoquiam. Both vehicles were traveling in opposite directions. Both vehicles were considered a total loss and the impact was so hard it tore a child’s car seat from its belts in Meneely’s vehicle and it smashed through the rear window, according to court documents. The accident blocked the highway for more than four hours.


According to a Washington State Patrol investigation, Cork had suffered a medical event that caused him to lose consciousness during the accident.


In January 2014, Sheriff Rick Scott announced that Cork would not return to duty following months of testing that revealed a combination of medical conditions.


“Doctors determined those medical conditions will prevent his ever returning to full service,” Scott was quoted as saying in a Jan. 3, 2014, article in The Daily World.


The lawsuit lists the Grays Harbor County, Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, Cork, and “Jane Doe” Cork (individually and married) as defendants.


Meneely is seeking undisclosed damages for physical and mental injuries, physical and mental pain, disability, discomfort and anguish which have impaired her earning capacity, and damages for loss of income, all due to “a direct and proximate result of the negligence, carelessness and unlawful conduct of the defendants.”


A tort claim form filed by Meneely in October 2014 was seeking $350,000 in damages from the state.


A trial scheduling date has been set for July 10.



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