TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Former "Saturday Night Live" star Tracy Morgan has sued Walmart over a highway crash involving one of its drivers that left him seriously injured and a fellow comedian dead.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claims Walmart was negligent when a driver of one of its tractor-trailers rammed into Morgan's limousine van June 7. The complaint claims the retail giant should have known that its driver had been awake for over 24 hours and that his commute of 700 miles from his home in Georgia to work in Delaware was "unreasonable." It also alleges the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
"As a result of Walmart's gross, reckless, willful, wanton, and intentional conduct, it should be appropriately punished with the imposition of punitive damages," according to the complaint. Morgan's lawsuit seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages.
In a statement issued Saturday, Walmart reiterated that it was "cooperating fully" in the ongoing investigation. "We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we're committed to doing the right thing for all involved," Walmart said.
