A Gilmer man's accidental death during a boating accident on Lake Cherokee in July this year has resulted in a big lawsuit with both parties involved hurling accusations at each other. Initially Terry Ellison, a passenger on one of the boats, filed a lawsuit against the boat operator, Michael Wilcox, 22, and the boat owner Mike Wilcox as well as against the second boat driver Corbin Crane, 17, and the boat owner Curtis Crane. Ellison broke his collarbone in the collision. Another passenger on Wilcox's boat, Chris Carpenter, 26, was killed in the accident and his parents Temple and Sandra Carpenter have joined the civil lawsuit against the operators and owners of the two boats.
The Carpenter's claim Wilcox and Crane operated their boats in a negligent manner and that Mike Wilcox and Curtis Crane were also negligent in entrusting their boats to their sons.
Apart from the loss of companionship, mental anguish and funeral expenses, the Carpenters are also seeking damages equivalent to the value of their son's future financial contributions to them.
The Wilcoxes and the Cranes are both defendants in this case and have requested for the venue to be changed from Rusk County as they had already received a lot of negative publicity in the area and did not feel they would receive a fair and impartial trial.
Information from the news- journal website.
Pic courtesy Analog Weapon/ Nic Stage from flickr.com
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