CHICAGO – A Chicago woman is suing the estate a friend of her husband's, alleging the defendant allowed her husband to drive a car while he was sleepy, resulting in both of their deaths.
Kristeen Maldonado of Chicago, special administrator of the estate of Victor Maldonado Jr., filed a lawsuit Dec. 23 in Cook County Circuit Court against Salvador Roman of Mundelein and the estate of David Roman, alleging wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Salvador Roman loaned his 2006 Chevy Impala to Victor Maldonado and David Roman to drive to a leadership conference in Texas. On Jan. 17, 2014, the suit says, Maldonado was at the wheel when he fell asleep, killing himself and Roman in the crash on U.S. Highway 54 in Texas.
The plaintiff alleges Salvador and David Roman are liable because they both knew Victor Maldonado was tired at the time he took the wheel but allowed him to drive anyway.
Maldonado seeks a jury trial and damages of more than $50,000. She is represented by attorneys Elizaebeth R. Olszewski and Tara R. Devine of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard PC in Waukegan.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2015-L012913