Louisa — A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the widow of a man killed in a 2007 traffic accident in Lawrence County has been settled out of court.
Terms of the settlement of Sharon Kirk’s lawsuit are confidential, said attorney John C. Kirk, who represented Sharon Kirk and the estate of her late husband, Joey Kirk, in the suit.
“I can only say that justice was done as far as it can be done,” he said. “Nothing, of course, could compensate for the lost life of this very, very good man and for the suffering his wonderful wife, Sharon, has endured.”
The case had been set to go to trial March 17, John Kirk said.
Joey Kirk, 42, an employee of the Martin County School District, was killed on Dec. 14, 2007, when a Ford F-150 pickup driven by Richard S. Gussler III of Lowmansville slammed into the rear of the Toyota Camry in which Joey Kirk was a passenger. The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. 23 and Ky. 2565.
Gussler, 31, pleaded guilty in August to a charge of second-degree manslaughter stemming from the crash and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
In addition to Gussler, Sharon Kirk’s suit named as a defendant Gussler’s former employer, Mountain City Ford of Inez. The vehicle Gussler was driving at the time of the accident was owned by the dealership.
The suit claimed Mountain City Ford was negligent when it hired Gussler to work as a salesman — a job that required him to operate the dealership’s vehicles on public roadways — due to his lengthy record of traffic-related offenses, including driving under the influence, speeding and operating on a suspended license.
John Kirk said he and his law partner, Jeff Hinkle, both felt a personal connection to Sharon Kirk’s case because Joey Kirk was a classmate of theirs at Sheldon Clark High School.
“Jeff and I are very happy that we were able to settle this matter at mediation and not have to put Sharon through the ordeal of reliving this tragedy at a trial,” he said.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
Local News
Accident victim's widow settles suit
- Local News
-
-
Pooches take to the street in Dog Jog
They were running with the big dogs Saturday in Grayson.
-
A Smith Branch Legacy
Six generations of Robinsons have called Smith Branch home.
-
Court battle heating up over stretch of blacktop
The court fight is just heating up over a block-long stretch of blacktop in Grayson.
More parties are piling on in the lawsuit accusing Grayson of passing an illegal ordinance to take ownership of the pavement. -
Regional jails ‘a total failure’
As the debate over a proposal to create a new Northeast Regional Jail Authority continues, some officials with the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville are watching closely.
-
Beshear in West Liberty to help in tornado recovery
State legislatures and Gov. Steve Beshear gathered in West Liberty on Friday to sign three bills that will help in the recovery efforts of the tornado-stricken town.
-
Students get more than a scoop’s share
There’s nothing more refreshing than ice cream on a hot day, and no one knows that better than the principal of Hager Elementary School in Ashland.
-
2 school aides part of drug arrests
Two elementary school aides and three other people were arrested Thursday in a Carter County drug investigation.
-
5K run main attraction for Final Friday in Greenup
Greenup’s Final Friday included the usual live entertainment and car show, but a 5K run also attracted many to town Friday evening.
-
Fla.-to-Boyd drug ring defendants plead guilty
One of the eight people charged in an alleged Florida-to-Boyd County pill-trafficking ring pleaded guilty Thursday and a second is expected to do the same next week.
A third defendant in the case pleaded guilty May 18. -
Carter school layoffs possible
Carter County schools are looking at deep budget cuts and layoffs.
About 20 may lose their jobs this year, treasurer Andy Lyons said. Lyons spoke to a reporter Thursday after presenting a tentative budget to the school board last week. - More Local News Headlines
-
Pooches take to the street in Dog Jog
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
