Pennsylvania Suit Settled In Student Bus Death
Two former University of Rhode Island students have settled a lawsuit that accused them of causing the death of a college student from Richboro, Bucks County, Pa., who was crushed by a bus in Newport, R. I. in 2004 in a bus accident.
According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, the two students, Jarrad Rocheleau and Loren Welsh, reached the agreement with the parents of Francis J. Marx V, who accused them of scuffling with their son early on May 20, 2004. The accident caused the Fairfield University senior to fall into the path of a bus being used for a pub-crawl.
The wrongful death lawsuit began two weeks ago in Superior Court and was resolved before closing arguments on February 10.
Rocheleau and Welsh admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The article stated that the settlement was for less than the $5 million sought by Marx’s parents.
After a formal dance at one of Newport’s mansions with his girlfriend, Marx got into a heated argument with a group of URI students celebrating their impending graduation with a pub-crawl.
His parents said he was pushed to the ground and fell beneath the wheel of a bus carrying students on their bar tour. Lawyers for Rocheleau and Welsh denied pushing Marx and suggested that he had been drinking heavily and fell backward on his own.
No criminal charges were filed.
If you suspect a loved one shouldn't have died at all and that their death was due to the action or lack of responsible action of another person Philly wrongful death lawsuits can be filed. In these lawsuits, the decedent’s heirs sue the negligent party or parties for damages related to the loss of life and their own pain and suffering.
The amount that can be claimed and the heirs who are allowed to file a Pennsylvania wrongful death lawsuit can vary widely depending on jurisdiction. In addition, statutes of limitation may come into play that limit the time a family has to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For these reasons and due to the complexity of these cases, it is recommended that families who think their family member’s death was wrongful first contact a wrongful death attorney for a case assessment. If the case is valid, the attorney can help investigate the claim, gather evidence, represent them in court, and collect the compensation they deserve.
At Cherry, Fieger, & Marciano can help you find justice and compensation for your loved one’s death. Call today for a free case evaluation and more information on our exemplary track record, documented legal skill and unparalleled resources. Your case consultation with one of our Philadelphia, PA wrongful death attorneys is free of charge and completely confidential.
