A second victim has filed a lawsuit against Benjamin Brewer, 39, the driver of the semi-truck that plowed through seven vehicles and killed six people in a wreck on Interstate 75 in June.
Chattanooga Attorney John Mark Griffin filed the lawsuit on behalf of victim Justin Knox and his wife, Nomiki Knox. The lawsuit is against Brewer and his employers, Billy Ray Sizemore and Cretty Sizemore, owners of Cool Runnings Express, Inc.
The lawsuit claims Justin Knox should be awarded $2,500,000 in compensatory damages and $10,000,000 in punitive damages, citing the defendants "for their reckless and grossly negligent actions."
According to the lawsuit, Justin Knox "incurred medical charges, past, present and future, loss of earning capacity, severe, painful and permanent injuries, along with emotional anguish."
Ben BrewerA Hamilton County grand jury indicted Brewer on Monday, on six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, driving under the influence of narcotics, speeding and making false reports about his duty status.
Chattanooga police issued a warrant for Brewer's arrest.
Brewer, of London, Ky., was on duty for about 50 consecutive hours during the first three-day leg of his journey, according to a preliminary report released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board. After spending 12 hours off-duty, he clocked back in and spent an additional 15 hours at the wheel for before the June 25 crash in Chattanooga, according to the report.
A man from Cleveland, Tenn., previously filed a lawsuit against Brewer and the Sizemores as well, asking for $10 million.