Alito Once a Defendant in Crash Lawsuit

[Newsjock]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101244.html

The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. -- Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito once was the defendant in a lawsuit stemming from a car crash that involved his wife and another driver.

The two parties reached a settlement and the case was dismissed in August 2004, four years after the traffic accident. Details of the settlement were not made public.

According to Essex County court papers, Susan and Joseph Gerish filed a lawsuit, claiming that Martha Alito's negligence caused the June 9, 2000, crash that occurred while the judge's wife was driving his car in West Caldwell, N.J., where the Alitos live.

... Gerish also sued Samuel Alito, arguing that he was negligent with the care and maintenance of the 2000 Volvo. Gerish's husband, Joseph, also sought damages in the case, saying that as a result of his wife's injuries he "did sustain the loss of her services and consortium and will so suffer losses in the future."

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