Defendant in death lawsuit sent to Iraq

Local News

June 20, 2011

Anonymous Register staff report The Richmond Register Mon Jun 20, 2011, 07:30 AM EDT

RICHMOND — A lawsuit filed by the mother of an Eastern Kentucky University student who died after being hit by a train last August might be delayed because one of the defendants has left the country.

Matt Lasters, who was the operator of the CSX train that struck and killed Hillary Hadley, 21, is in Iraq serving in the Army, according to an order filed Monday in Madison Circuit Court.

The order, signed by Judge William Clouse and agreed to by attorneys for both sides, states Lasters is entitled to protection pursuant to the Service Members Civil Relief Act, which grants stays of court liabilities for those serving periods of active military duty.

Lasters is in the United States Army Reserve and was ordered to report to active duty in Iraq on June 1, the order states.

The order demands that any discovery related to Lasters be postponed until further agreement between attorneys or orders from the court.

Lasters is expected to return from Iraq on or before Dec. 31.

Hadley, of Columbia, was killed in August when her vehicle collided with a CSX train traveling north at the railroad crossing near the Mayde/Menelaus Road intersection.

The lawsuit claims Lasters and CSX were negligent in the operation of the train. It also alleges that CSX failed to properly maintain the signal devices and right of way in the area. The area did not have crossing arms at the time of the accident; however, CSX and the city of Berea signed a contract in April to install them, as well as additional warning lights.

The family is asking for compensatory damages and a jury trial.

Attorneys for CSX and Masters filed an answer to the suit claiming CSX and Masters had no duty to maintain the area and therefore no liability. They also say Hadley’s “contributory negligence” was a substantial factor in the accident.

Text Only

Local News

Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Pets of the Week from the Madison County Animal Shelter
The Madison County Animal Shelter is located at 1386 Richmond Road in Berea. Shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Animals available for adoption can be seen from noon to close Monday through Saturday. The adoption fee for cats and kittens is $10. Puppies and grown dogs may be adopted for $25. Adoptions include a free veterinary exam, a first series of vaccinations, a discount on spaying and neutering, free licensing and de-worming. Call the shelter at 986-9625.

May 25, 2012 2 Photos
A big sister’s reflection on life, love and changes
Yesterday was my Little Sister’s graduation. This one, though, was especially important to me.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Veterans will conduct Memorial Day programs
Although Memorial Day weekend may be a time of picnics and barbecue for many, some will be observing the day’s original meaning.

May 24, 2012
EKU Arts Center attendance tops 50,000 mark
The Center for the Arts at Eastern Kentucky University has played host during its inaugural season to more than 50,500 guests from more than 30 states and abroad, according to data released by EKU.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
Man charged with rape, kidnapping
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Irvine man early Wednesday morning on charges of rape, kidnapping and assault.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 3:30 a.m. in the area of Panola and Knob Lick, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Willard Reardon.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Summer break, here we come
Students and faculty at B. Michael Caudill Middle School participated in field day activities Wednesday. Today is Madison County Schools’ last day before summer break begins.

May 24, 2012 5 Photos
City to require pawn brokers, resellers to obtain, report records
The Richmond City Commission heard first readings of two ordinances Tuesday that are designed to thwart criminals’ ability to sell stolen items.
The ordinances will require pawn brokers, consignment stores, junk/scrap metal dealers and other similar businesses to obtain the identities of their customers and keep records of items acquired.

May 24, 2012
County to settle on retirement back pay for two deputies
A settlement has been made in the case of two Madison County sheriff’s deputies seeking back hazardous duty retirement pay after being fired in 2010 by former Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell.

May 24, 2012
Grand jury indicts men in double-murder
Two men accused of killing a Richmond couple for money and then hiding their bodies in graves along Tates Creek Road were indicted Wednesday on capital charges by a Madison grand jury.
Matthew Denholm, 27, and Daniel Keene, 26, were both indicted on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse charges. They also were each indicted on tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary charges.
The indictments were returned around 2 p.m. and read by Judge Jean C. Logue. Commonwealth’s Attorney David Smith said he expected Denholm and Keene would be arraigned in Madison Circuit Court in mid-June.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Defendant in death lawsuit sent to Iraq

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map