A truck driver is suing FedEx, alleging the man behind the wheel of one of their big rigs engaged him in a road rage incident in 2014 that ended with the plaintiff being punched and knocked to the ground.
George Reich’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, filed Wednesday, also names as a defendant FedEx driver Rick Crum. The suit alleges battery, assault, negligence and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
FedEx issued a statement today in reaction to the lawsuit, saying it “holds its service providers to high standards of safety and professionalism. We cannot comment on the specifics of these allegations while they are under review.”
According to the lawsuit, Reich was driving south on Interstate 5 on Nov. 6, 2014. The complaint does not state where along the highway the incident occurred and Reich’s lawyers could not be immediately reached.
The road rage episode started when Crum began following Reich for about four miles, passed the plaintiff at a speed above the 55 mph limit for trucks and then abruptly changed lanes again so he would be in front of Reich, the suit states.
Crum made an obscene gesture at Reich as he was driving by, the suit alleges.
Once in front of Reich, Crum slowed to 45 mph, forcing the plaintiff to brake and reduce his speed, the suit states. Crum continued to drive at a lower pace in order to aggravate Reich, the suit states.
But when Reich tried to pass Crum, the FedEx driver sped up to try and prevent Reich from getting ahead of him, according to the complaint. Crum also made a different, but equally inappropriate motion at Reich, the suit states.
Reich slowed down to try and defuse the situation, the suit states. Shortly thereafter, Crum pulled to the side of the road and Reich stopped to take a photo of the FedEx truck license plate with his cell phone so he could report the man’s behavior, the suit states.
However, Crum approached Reich as he tried to take the photo and asked, “What are you doing?,” the suit states.
“Within seconds, Crum maliciously struck plaintiff’s hand” that held the phone, the suit states.
The blow to Reich’s hand was so severe he fell to the ground and his phone was dislodged from his grip, the suit states. Crum went to his truck and drove away, according to the complaint.
—City News Service