A man's estate is suing over an auto accident that cost the man his life.
Joanna Pajak, as administrator of the estate of Rafal Szczepanik, filed a lawsuit June 5 in Cook County Circuit Court against Flyer Transport, Michael D. Wiles and Jaroslaw Mietus, alleging wrongful death.
According to the complaint, at 5:24 a.m. Jan. 23, 2014, Szczepanik was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by Mietus, who was driving west on Interstate Highway 80, near milepost 118 in Grundy County. At the same time, Wiles, while working for Flyer Transport, was driving a Flyer tractor-trailer west on I-80 when he stopped and parked on the right shoulder, the lawsuit states. As a result, the suit says, the plaintiff's vehicle collided with the defendant's vehicle, causing injuries to Szczepanik that caused his death.
Richard Pullano
The suit says defendant Wiles: stopped his trailer in a prohibited area; failed to stop in a rest area; filed a falsified driver's record; failed to turn on emergency flashers; and failing to put out emergency warning devices.
The defendant Mietus is charged with: operating under the influence without keeping a proper lookout and at a speed greater than reasonable; failing to decrease his speed; not stopping when danger was imminent; not giving a warning that danger was imminent; not giving an audible warning; and not exercising due caution. As a result, the lawsuit states, the plaintiff suffered injuries that led to his death.
Pajak seeks damages for the deceased in excess of $100,000, plus costs. She is represented by attorneys Richard Pullano and Mathew Siporin of the Law Offices of Richard L. Pullano in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L005727.