MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (FOX 2) - A man takes his car for an oil change and gets sued - after his car was involved in a deadly accident killing a worker while at the dealership.

On March 13, 2020, the customer took his car to the Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership and a young 19-year-old mechanic attempted to change the oil. But something terrible happened. "He starts the car, removes his foot from the clutch, and you know what happens? The Jeep jumps and kills my client," said attorney David Femminineo. The vehicle hit and killed employee Jeffrey Hawkins, a married 42-year-old, father of four, and a lifelong mechanic. "He was an excellent man," Femminineo said. "The 2-year-old who was about 1 at the time of the accident, the time of the death, he'll never know his father." Mr. Hawkins died instantly in the accident.

FOX 2: "Did the 19-year-old know how to drive a stick?" "He didn't know how to drive a stick, and he had no license," the attorney said. FOX 2: "Why did the dealership hire him?" "That's what I'd like to know," Femminineo said. But hold on one minute - FOX 2: "You must be suing the dealership?" "We can't because of a legal standard that is involved," the lawyer said.

Jeff Hawkins died in the tragic accident. That's because the accident happened at work and involved two employees and you can't sue the boss in that situation. But attorney David Femminineo claims that the person responsible is the owner of the car. FOX 2: "You're suing the owner of the car who's getting his oil changed who did nothing in this case?" "I have to do that," Femminineo said. That's the law. FOX 2 reached out to the car owner's attorney - but he had no comment on pending litigation, other than to say he's going to fight this case in a trial at the end of May.

"When you hand your car over to anybody including the valet or the person at the service desk at your local dealership, you better be able to trust that person," the attorney said.
dealership.

So because you can't sue the dealership directly does that mean you can't sue jeep for making a standard?

This is what our country has become.

That law is all messed up

It is why a ladder costs $300.

It's the democratic way.

That’s ridiculous, you know nothing about the guy at the oil change place but you also have no choice but to let him drive your vehicle. Crazy world these days fellas

When I owned my Jeep, I took it to the local Boerne Chrysler Jeep dealership only a couple of times. Those guys were scary dumb in that service department.

This is called hoping for a settlement out of court to eliminate drug out lawyers fees. I hope the deceased’s lawyer gets eaten by a wild bear, and turned into what he really is… poop

What an idiot

Do you have a link for this story?

I really dislike civil lawyers.

Exactly right!

Sad as hell that common sense and what is truly right no longer exist due in large part to crooked, money grubbing attorneys that bend and twist laws each and every day

Kab......

[img]https://www.fox26houston.com/news/c...sued-after-worker-dies-during-oil-change[/img]

I think you mean personal injury lawyers. I'm with you. We sold bucket trucks and digger derricks. Some idiot would forget some safety protocol, usually close to beer-thirty on Friday, get hurt, and sue everyone in sight.

Thank you. That lawyer is an idiot.

Smart lawyers don't serve in the legislature, they get rich dealing with the laws passed by idiots.

Even a good lawyer is still a lawyer. I'll leave it at that.

I concur.

The only deep pockets available on this case are the car owners insurance policy, so that's what the lawyer is chasing. Jeep owner probably has a million in liability and he'll sue for $10-15M then settle out of court for $1M. And then the rest of us get to pay for it in higher insurance costs as a whole because of some dumbazz 19yr old kid has never seen a stick shift.