Tracy Morgan Sues Walmart: ’30 Rock’ Star Files Lawsuit Following Fatal Crash


Tracy Morgan is suing Walmart after a crash that left him and several others hospitalized and a friend of his dead. According to The New York Post, the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey (the state where the June 7 accident occurred). Morgan was left in critical condition with severe injuries to at least one of his legs. Morgan also suffered “multiple fractures” though specific details have never been made public. He spent nearly two weeks in the hospital before being moved to a rehab facility on June 20. Now, Morgan is taking legal action against Walmart — and the driver of the truck that hit the vehicle he was riding in. Driver Kevin Roper, 35, is also facing criminal charges.

The complaint reads in part:

“Walmart was careless and negligent in the ownership and operation of its motor vehicle, which caused Mr. Morgan to suffer severe personal injuries. As a direct and proximate result of said collision, Mr. Morgan was caused to sustain severe painful bodily injuries, including but not limited to multiple fractures which required multiple surgeries, extensive medical treatment and will require significant physical rehabilitation.”

Tracy Morgan is suing Walmart along with three other plaintiffs. According to TMZ, Walmart has been cooperating in the investigation surrounding the deadly crash. The lawsuit filed against Roper requests that he goes before a jury in the case. Roper pleaded “not guilty” to the charges brought against him.

TMZ reports:

“According to the lawsuit, Roper had driven 700 miles from his home to the Walmart distribution center before beginning his fatal drive. One person died when Roper was tooling along in his tractor-trailer at 65 in a 45 MPH zone and slammed into the SUV.”

Tracy Morgan, 45, and the other plaintiffs are seeking “compensatory and statutory damages, punitive damages, and legal fees,” according to The New York Post. In an earlier report by The Inquisitr, Roper hadn’t slept for 24 hours before the crash occurred. Many believe that Roper was dozing off at the wheel, thus causing the crash due to negligence. Many feel that Roper and Walmart should be held accountable if this is indeed the case.

Of course, to convict Roper, the prosecution will need to prove that he was sleep-deprived and that this wasn’t just some freak accident. He can only be convicted of the four charges that have been brought against him (three counts of assault by auto and one count of death by auto) if the prosecution can prove that he “operated the vehicle recklessly.”

[Photo courtesy of Charles Sykes/Bravo]

Share this article: Tracy Morgan Sues Walmart: ’30 Rock’ Star Files Lawsuit Following Fatal Crash
More from Inquisitr