KANSAS CITY, MO ― The carwash named in a wrongful death lawsuit is off the hook after the jury voted in its favor, the Kansas City Business Journal reported.
As reported previously by PC&D, the lawsuit had been filed on behalf of Rosland Watson, who was killed in November 2009 after a Toyota Land Cruiser unexpectedly accelerated while at a carwash here. At issue was whether the carwash, Grandview Auto Wash, was undercapitalized at the time of the accident, and could have done more to protect people from out-of-control cars. One measure would have been to put safety barriers in place. Attorneys for Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP have served U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who allegedly has some sort of ownership role with the carwash, which is owned by The Cleaver Co. LLC. Apparently, Cleaver and The Cleaver Co. LLC defaulted on a small business loan in 2002 which was worth $1.3 million.
SUA and the carwash industry
The Feb. 7 story said that Cleaver Co. LLC, owner of Grandview Auto Wash, is in the process of selling the carwash to Rick Kochuyt, who has been managing it since 2007.
To read the entire report, click here.
