Lawsuits Filed In Two Fatal Wrecks
posted November 12, 2003

Circuit Court lawsuits have been filed in two fatal wrecks.

Olga Franklin is suing Mark F. Mendale of Homewood, Ill., for $2.75 million in the death of her son, Christopher Adrian Gomez.

The suit says Mr. Mendale was driving the Gomez vehicle on Nov. 4, 2002 at 4:30 a.m. eastbound on I-40 near Knoxville.

It says he lost control of the vehicle while trying to pass another vehicle on the right, veered across the eastbound lanes and hit an embankment.

Mr. Gomez was thrown from the vehicle and killed.

The suit was filed by attorneys William H. Horton and James Hurst Jr.

Ratilal Patel of Kansas City, Mo., is suing Kelly Connelly Harbison and James G. Harbison in the death of his wife, Kapila Patel.

She was killed while trying to cross Ringgold Road on Nov. 17, 2002.

The suit says Kelly Harbison was negligent and did not keep a proper lookout.

Mrs. Patel, 54, of East Ridge, had three children.

The suit, filed by attorney Andy Berke, asks $750,000 in damages.

No charges were filed in the accident, in which the driver said she did not see the pedestrian.