Judge freezes assets of Connecticut trucking company in lawsuit over fatal crash

By Jim Greene

Published on September 29, 2005

Plaintiff's attorney Michael Stratton and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal requested the order, granted by Judge Vanessa Bryant, to prevent American Crushing & Recycling from liquidating assets. Governor Jodi Rell said she asked State's Attorney Christopher Morano to take any legal action required to preserve evidence and prevent sales after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles received an anonymous tip that the company was trying to sell some of its trucks.

Stratton is representing the estate of one of five people killed July 29 when an American Crushing dump truck coming down a mountain grade slammed into cars and a commuter bus, all stopped at a traffic light. One of those killed was the driver of the truck.

Concern over the company's assets was fueled by the disclosure that it has no liability insurance coverage. An insurance company filed court papers stating it had been American Crushing's carrier, but that the policy was suspended in January. It also stated that American Crushing tried to reinstate coverage just hours after the accident.

Because of the accident, some state lawmakers are urging changes to state law, which does not require insurance companies to notify the DMV when a company's liability insurance is terminated.

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