Blog Post

Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death Suit


September 07, 2007
Topic: Wrongful Death

Last year, the principal of a Santa Barbara County high school, Donald Wilson, and Marie Crook, a resident of Arroyo Grande, California were killed in a fatal car crash just east of Santa Maria California. Wilson was returning from a school trip while 75-year-old Marie Crook with her husband James Crook was returning from an anniversary celebration in Laughlin. According the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when Wilson for reasons yet undetermined crossed into the westbound lane and struck the Crook's Chevrolet pickup. Wilson died on the spot while Marie and James were airlifted to nearby hospitals with severe head injuries. Marie succumbed to her injuries a few days later.

According to the Santa Maria Times, the Crook family filed a lawsuit against the Cuyama Joint Union School District and Wilson alleging wrongful death, personal injuries and property damage. The family's attorneys said that the case which was earlier set to go to trial has now been settled out of court to the tune of $1.5 million dollars. $1.4 million dollars were paid by the school district while another $100,000 were paid from Wilson's insurance money.

According to the Crooks, they didn't want the case to go to court because they feared James Crook wouldn't live long enough to see it through. Fortunately, like in most personal injury claims, it was settled before it even got to trial.

The plaintiff pursued compensation from the school district because Wilson was an employee of the school and was responsible for negligent driving, causing the fatal crash. When an on duty employee is clearly at fault, his employer can be held liable for personal injuries or wrongful deaths that may occur because of his negligence.

Pinning liability in a personal injury or wrongful death case isn't easy in a complicated car accident. You need to have tenacious attorneys on your side and you need to act fast, as soon after the accident as possible to maximize your chances of a settlement. If you're looking for representation in a personal injury case, call the car wreck lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation today.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.