After Walmart placed blame on Tracy Morgan and his entourage for not wearing seat belts during a car accident between their driver and Morgan’s limo in June, the comedian is firing back.
Morgan released a statement yesterday, saying he’s shocked the company would blame him for the car crash that injured three others and killed his mentor and fellow comedian James McNair.
“After I heard what Walmart said in court I felt I had to speak out. I can’t believe Walmart is blaming me for an accident that they caused. My friends and I were doing nothing wrong. I want to thank my fans for sticking with me during this difficult time. I love you all. I’m fighting hard every day to get back.”
Over the summer, representatives for the former SNL cast member spoke out about Morgan’s improving health. But it was revealed today that things might be worse than they think.
Because of the injuries Morgan faced in the accident, he may never be able to perform again. His lawyer Benedict Morelli says he is still under treatment for injuries to his brain. Morgan is working on learning to speak again through cognitive, vocational, and physical therapies.
The 30 Rock star’s lawyer, Benedict Morelli, said ‘The jury’s still out’ on whether Morgan will ever be able to perform again.
“The doctors don’t know the answer. I don’t know the answer, he said.”
“These people are despicable,” said Morelli, who is representing both Morgan and two of his fellow passengers, Jeffrey Millea and Ardie Fuqua, in a federal lawsuit filed in July. “They knew that they changed these people’s lives forever and killed somebody.”
Walmart’s arguments infuriated Morelli, who added, “They’re good blame shifters. I guess that’s how they make $783 billion a year, shifting the blame.”
Walmart released a statement of their own after Morgan’s, stating that they’re simply trying to defend themselves against the third-party: Kevin Roper, the truck driver who slammed into Morgan’s limo bus.
“Walmart is committed to working to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident,” the statement reads. “As part of the ordinary course of legal proceedings, Walmart filed an initial response yesterday to the lawsuit that included facts and defenses that may impact the case moving forward. While we were required to respond to the lawsuit, we have also taken steps to encourage settlement discussions. Our thoughts continue to go out to everyone involved, and we remain committed to doing what’s right.”
Roper has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide.
Police believe Roper was dozing off on the New Jersey turnpike and failed to notice the traffic in front of him until it was too late.
SOURCE: Huffington Post, Daily Mail | VIDEO CREDIT: News Inc.
