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Woodmore lawsuit on behalf of Carl Lewis
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Woodmore Elementary school bus crash
Community holds vigil to honor victims of fatal Woodmore school bus crash [photos] One year later: Have school buses gotten safer since the Woodmore crash? The legislation: Advocates hope to pass school bus seat belt bill in 2018 The neighbors: Talley Road residents recount details of deadly crash Cooper: Woodmore bus crash offered lessons, realities A year of grief: Mother recalls tragic day she lost her daughter The first responders: Paramedics, police officers recall scene of crash [photos] Lawsuit: Woodmore employees say bus company responsible for emotional trauma Two more lawsuits point to negligence in deadly Woodmore bus crash Three more civil claims filed in Woodmore crash case Bus coalition says Durham drivers want to share safety concerns American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee honors local heroes Hamilton County 911 receives award for response to Woodmore crash School bus driver in deadly Woodmore crash released from jail after making bond Trial date set for driver in fatal Woodmore Elementary School bus crash Lawsuit: Mother of child who died in Woodmore bus crash was tricked into legal agreement Bus driver in deadly Woodmore crash placed on supervised release State attorneys receive new information in Woodmore solicitation case Chattanooga firefighters recognized with 'Governor's Certificate' for Woodmore response Judge denies alternative sentence request for bus driver in deadly Woodmore crash Attorney: Second vehicle involved in deadly Woodmore bus crash Court date delayed for bus driver charged in Woodmore case Victim's mom posts court documents on Facebook, complicating trial in deadly Woodmore bus crash Woodmore bus driver faces additional charges after prosecutors pledge to bring more counts Prosecutors plan to bring more charges against Woodmore bus driver Attorney says Woodmore bus driver should get alternative sentence Texas firm denies any solicitation of Woodmore victims Woodmore families protest after school board renews bus company contract [photos] Out-of-town jurors will decide Johnthony Walker's fate in Woodmore bus crash trial Tennessee AG files lawsuit against Texas firm accused of deceiving Woodmore families Child Services confirms agency has been investigating Woodmore bus driver Woodmore: Johnthony Walker's attorney wants out-of-town jury Judge rules Woodmore attorneys can ask for pre-accident info from bus company Twelfth civil lawsuit filed in Woodmore bus crash New Woodmore lawsuit takes aim at predatory law firms New lawsuit accuses law firms of preying on Woodmore victims Two more lawsuits filed in connection to fatal Woodmore bus crash Law enforcement to follow, randomly ride in Hamilton County school buses in wake of fatal crash NTSB report recounts events leading up to fatal Woodmore school bus crash Woodmore Fund completes distribution of more than $500,000 in gifts from community to families Woodmore responders recount crash nightmare Woodmore bus crash: Can county turn back clock on bus privatization? Despite Woodmore crash, Hamilton County likely will extend contract with same bus company Tennessee's attorney general vows to take on any law firms that exploit the Woodmore crash victims Driver in fatal Woodmore school bus crash had previous accidents, infractions in personnel file Lawsuit filed against Hamilton County Schools in connection with fatal Woodmore bus crash Industry experts warn of predatory law firms in wake of Woodmore bus tragedy Woodmore Fund releases video appeal for relief funds ahead of holidays Last 2 Woodmore patients released from Erlanger to rehab facility [video] Sixth Woodmore bus crash lawsuit targets bus manufacturer] Two Woodmore bus crash victims still in Erlanger Children's Hospital Woodmore Fund begins to help families affected by fatal bus crash in Chattanooga Fourth and fifth lawsuits filed in Woodmore bus crash Remaining hospitalized children in Woodmore bus accident in fair condition Third lawsuit says bus crash causes child to suffer disfigurement, brain injury Durham claims it wasn't aware of all complaints against driver in deadly bus crash [photos] Chattanooga school bus driver refuses to speak with investigators in fatal crash probe School bus company addresses driver complaints prior to fatal bus crash, promises change [video] Second family files negligence lawsuit in connection with deadly bus crash Hearing for bus driver in Woodmore crash delayed School bus strikes pedestrian in Brainerd one week after deadly Woodmore crash Three Woodmore students still in critical condition; 5 total remain hospitalized No kids were on school bus that hit pedestrian on Brainerd Road Man allegedly using Woodmore victims to scam people for money Zyaira Mateen, 6: The girl who loved to read and dance D'myunn Brown: Six-year-old remembered as smart, funny Zyanna Harris, 10: Girl had energy and spunk Cor'Dayja Jones, 9: Fourth-grader was sweet and shy Keonte Wilson, 8: Rambunctious boy was youngest of four Zoie Nash, 9: She was cheerful and laid-back In the wake of the fatal bus crash, Chattanooga stands strong Cook: The Hallelujahs of Woodmore Strong Tennessee law caps damages for Woodmore victims, families Bus driver in fatal crash told school employee 'he did not care about the students,' school records show Family of bus crash survivor finds much to be grateful for Community gives $112,000 to families of children killed in bus crash Parents say they warned district employees before crash that bus driver drove too fast and was reckless Life-saving stability control mandatory in new cars but not required for school buses [video] A sixth child in Woodmore bus crash has died NTSB says Talley Road not on designated route for bus in fatal crash First lawsuit filed in connection with Monday's fatal bus crash Local agencies launch fund for families of school bus crash victims Brainerd crash: New details emerge on history of driver, bus company Families mourn Woodmore Elementary students killed in school bus crash Tragedy leaves many area first responders emotionally scarred Local lawmakers favor push for mandatory seat belts on school buses Community gathers at prayer vigil for victims of fatal school bus accident Neighbors recount moments following Monday's fatal crash, say driver had reputation for speeding Johnthony Walker crashed bus months before fatal accident A nation reacts to Monday's school bus crash tragedy McCormick to push bill requiring all Tennessee school buses have seat belts Haslam says 'time to have that conversation' about school bus safety Neighbors of the bus driver charged with vehicular homicide said he was 'just an ordinary guy' School bus service provider had 346 crashes in last two years, records show' Families identify all five children killed in bus crash Community rallies to support Woodmore families Blood Assurance needs O-negative blood donations School bus driver in fatal accident graduated from Brainerd 6 students in ICU after school bus driver charged in crash that killed Woodmore Elementary students Erlanger doctors say kids dazed, couldn't spell names on arrival Officials report multiple fatalities in school bus crash on Talley Road
A lawsuit filed this morning against Durham School Services unveils another accusation of out-of-town law firms preying on Woodmore victims days after the deadly November crash.
Shanquatta Byrd and Carl Lewis are parents to a child on Bus 366, which overturned on Nov. 21, 2016, after driver Johnthony Walker, 24, lost control of the vehicle along Talley Road. The crash killed six and injured several more.
In the following days, the Times Free Press reported, out-of-town law firms approached family members about litigation, violating an ethical rule that says lawyers can't solicit victims for 30 days after a serious crash.
Lewis and Byrd cut a deal with local firm Warren & Griffin to represent them in a civil action, the suit says. But on Nov. 23, Lewis was arrested on federal charges and placed in Hamilton County Jail.
There, a man named "Coffman" approached him, claimed he worked for a black investigator in Savannah, Ga., and added that Lewis was entitled to money in this accident.
The man said a firm in Georgia could get Lewis out of custody and fight the federal charges if Lewis signed on, the suit says.
Before 30 days had passed, the investigator visited multiple times, according to jail logs, the suit says.
Days later, the suit says, Byrd approached Warren & Griffin and said she was switching to a different firm in Georgia called Fried, Rogers & Goldberg LLC.
That Georgia firm turned around and filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Circuit Court , but it didn't include Lewis as a party, the suit says.
Attorney Robin Flores filed this suit on behalf of Lewis, who he argues is also entitled to damages from Durham School Services, the corporation that provides the majority of the county's buses. The suit also names Walker, the Hamilton County Department of Education and Ben Coulter, a department agent.
In this case, Flores wrote, Lewis has standing to bring a case because "the actions described in the previous paragraphs suggest that the Georgia firm may not be acting in the best interests of the child."
Stay with the Times Free Press as more information becomes available.
