Archive for Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Construction worker files civil suit against Morgan
It was a day of justice for the families of two men killed in a construction zone along U.S. Highway 59. The woman accused of running them down is guilty on all counts.
September 9, 2008
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Ramona Morgan found guilty
Ramona Morgan was found guilty of killing two men and injuring a third when she drove her truck through a construction zone on U.S. Highway 59 south of Lawrence on Sept. 11, 2007.
A civil lawsuit has been filed against Ramona Morgan, the woman found guilty Tuesday afternoon of killing two men and injuring a third when she drove her truck through a construction zone south of Lawrence.
Amanda Hopper, a 22-year-old Dustrol Inc. construction worker who hit Morgan's truck with a stop sign during the Sept. 11, 2007, incident, is suing Morgan in Douglas County District Court for damages in excess of $75,000.
Hopper, of El Dorado, was flagging traffic at the north end of the construction zone when the truck drove by and struck her, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. She was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital where she was treated for her injuries.
During the criminal proceedings for Morgan, who was found guilty of two counts of reckless second-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery, Hopper testified that she struck Morgan's truck with her stop sign because Morgan was disobeying her orders in the construction zone near North 900 Road and U.S. 59.
Hopper "tried desperately to flag (Morgan) down," according to the civil suit which was filed Thursday, and Morgan "knowingly, willfully and intentionally drove her vehicle : in such a manner that (Hopper) was knocked into a ditch and suffered injuries."
Morgan hasn't faced criminal charges in connection with Hopper's injuries, but was found guilty of injuring another Dustrol worker, Curtis Delzell. Morgan was also found guilty of killing Tyrone Korte, 30, of Seneca, an inspector for the Kansas Department of Transportation, and Rolland Griffith, 24, a construction worker for El Dorado-based Dustrol.
The civil lawsuit has been assigned to Judge Robert Fairchild, court records indicate, but a court date has not been set.
Case timeline
- Sept. 11, 2007: 2 road crew workers killed in hit and run
- Sept. 12, 2007: Traffic violations pressed while fatality investigation continues
- Sept. 21, 2007: $1M bond reduced
- Sept. 27, 2007: Charges filed in highway deaths
- Feb. 2, 2008: Hit-and-run suspect to stand trial
- April 23, 2008: Driver guilty of fleeing officers
- May 21, 2008: Driver faces murder charges today
- June 3, 2008: Hit-and-run 'something I'll never forget'
- June 4, 2008: Hit-and-run suspect can be tried for murder
- Sept. 9, 2008: Jury finds Ramona Morgan guilty on all charges relating to last September's accident
- Sept. 9, 2008: Construction worker files civil suit against Morgan
- All past coverage
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- Jury finds Ramona Morgan guilty on all charges relating to last September's accident 69 comments / September 9, 2008
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- Trial to begin in hit-and-run deaths 6 comments / September 2, 2008
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9 September 2008
at 5:23 p.m.
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xbusguy (Anonymous) says…
Good….
9 September 2008
at 5:35 p.m.
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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…
Yep. Might get to split up about $30,000 between them.
9 September 2008
at 5:55 p.m.
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domino (Anonymous) says…
It isn't always about the $$$
9 September 2008
at 6:02 p.m.
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somebodynew (Anonymous) says…
Unfortunately, this is one criminal who actually had money - - until Mr. Rork took it a lot of it. Who knows how much is left?? I cannot prove this (and probably shouldn't say it) and it is just my personal opinion, that the only reason her attorney didn't ask for any psych eval was to stretch the case out and get more money from her, since he was hired and not appointed. I could easily be wrong and this is just my opinion.
9 September 2008
at 6:21 p.m.
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coltrane (Anonymous) says…
great !Morgan is guilty of second degree murder and wantondisregard for other humans. behavior of a sociopath
9 September 2008
at 6:25 p.m.
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misplacedcheesehead (Anonymous) says…
I would love to see Ms. Hopper drain every cent from this Morgan woman. Alas, I fear that when she wins the suit, it may end up being more symbolic than anything.
9 September 2008
at 8:43 p.m.
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Newell_Post (Anonymous) says…
She obviously has no money. Certainly not after the criminal trial. However, her insurance company has money, assuming she was actually functional enough to have insurance….
9 September 2008
at 10:13 p.m.
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igby (Anonymous) says…
This lady “Hopper” may have distracted Morgan possibly causing the accident. Someone was in fact chasing her with a stop sign.Hopper did not follow training guide lines and battered Morgan's truck with the stop sign. Instead, she, Hopper, should of been on the radio warning the foreman of a distract and un-attentive driver. What did she possibly hope to gain by hitting Morgan's truck with the stop sign? Why the lawsuit?She, Hopper will bury herself when the facts come out.
10 September 2008
at 9:56 a.m.
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BABBOY (Anonymous) says…
Igby, are you really that flipping stupid? It is not Hopper's fault. Tell your friend Morgan to enjoy her stay in the clink.
10 September 2008
at 12:41 p.m.
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JOEHAWK (Anonymous) says…
igby, She hit her truck with the stop sign to get her attention!i too would file a suit against her so that any money she has or will have, will go to the families she harmed.This woman has shown no remorse for what she did. She should never be allowed to be free again, she is psyco!What facts are remaining to come out? The trial is over!igby, step away from the bong.
16 September 2008
at 11:58 p.m.
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katibeth (Anonymous) says…
igby,If you have paid any attention to what has been said in this case, Amanda was a mile to a mile and a half away from where Morgan hit Rolland and Ty. There were no radios available, as there are not at any site with Dustrol. The only way for the flagger to communicate with the other employees is when the pilot car comes by or by cell phone. Amanda called the foreman when Morgan went through the construction site the first time. When she gathered her berrings from being knocked into the ditch when Morgan came through the second time, the first person she called was the foreman, but by that time it was too late. If you were the one who's job was to keep your crew safe, and you worked with the same 25 people day in and day out, wouldn't you do whatever you could think of to keep them safe? What other choice did she have? It was the only way she could try to get Morgan's attention short of jumping in front of her truck which would have only resulted in one more 2nd degree murder charge. Put yourself in her place… Morgan deserves everything that is being handed to her right now.Thank you to all of you who have stood up for Amanda along with the other families. It is greatly appreciated by all of them I'm sure… and it is appreciated by me. Amanda's good friend. Thanks again… and my prayers are with all the families involved.