Sex Offender Cabbie’s Company Not Responsible for Killing Boy – Austin Personal Injury Lawyer
Jul 20, 2012
Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) July 19, 2012 – In this case, a cab driver’s employer was not held responsible for the man’s actions in killing a young boy.
“This case revolved around an appeal court ruling that the owner of a taxi cab company would not be held personally liable for the murder of a young boy, by one of his driver’s, a convicted sex offender. The driver was on duty when he used text messages to lead a young boy to think he was a girl. The idea was to get the boy out of the home of a friend. It worked, because the 12-year-old boy wanted to meet the person texting him,” recounted Brooks Schuelke, an Austin personal injury lawyer with Perlmutter & Schuelke, L.L.P.
The boy’s body was found the next morning in a heavily wooded area close to where the cab driver had picked him up. He had been suffocated and sexually assaulted. The 36-year-old cabbie was arrested a few hours later and charged with first degree murder. The death penalty is operative in this case, and the criminal trial is slated for August 2012.
“While there is nothing the boy’s family can do about the criminal proceedings, they have chosen to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the cab driver, the city where the murder happened, the cab company owner, the taxi company as a corporate entity and their insurance carrier. Part of the suit stated the owner knowingly hired a convicted sex offender. The wrongful death lawsuit will go to court after the criminal trial has concluded,” explained Austin personal injury lawyer, Schuelke.
Even though the company owner did admit he knew the cab driver was a convicted sex offender, he pointed out he was merely acting as the president of a trading company, doing business as a cab company, and that he should not be held personally liable.
“Since this case took place in Louisiana, the courts do not like to hold a company officer personally liable for corporation decisions and the cab company owner was dismissed from the suit, much to the chagrin of the boy’s family. This may not happen in other states, and you would need to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to find out what would happen in the state where you live,” suggested Schuelke.
To learn more or to contact an Austin personal injury attorney or Austin injury lawyer, visit http://www.civtrial.com.
Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP
1717 W. 6th Street, Suite 375
Austin, Texas 78703-4868
Call (512) 476-4944
