Morgan, who starred in the TV show "30 Rock" and the late
night comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live," was badly
injured and comedian James 'Jimmy Mack' McNair was killed in the
June 7 accident on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Terms and conditions of the settlement with Morgan, comedian
Ardley Fuqua Jr., Morgan's assistant Jeffrey Millea and Millea's
wife, Krista, were undisclosed. The parties had a strong joint
interest in keeping the information confidential, the documents
showed.
"Wal-Mart did right by me and my family, and for my associates
and their families. I am grateful that the case was resolved
amicably," Morgan said in a joint statement with the retailer.
Greg Foran, president and chief executive officer of Walmart
U.S., said that although the company could not change what
happened, it was committed to helping ensure the well-being of
those hurt or affected by the accident.
"We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved," he
added.
Benedict Morelli, lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the company
took full responsibility for the accident.
McNair's two children, Danita and Jamel, settled their lawsuit
against Wal-Mart in January for $10 million, which will be split
between them.
Morgan, 46, suffered a serious brain injury and several broken
bones, and the other passengers were also injured when the
limousine bus they were traveling in was rear-ended by a
Wal-Mart truck when they were returning from a comedy
performance in Delaware.
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They claimed Wal-Mart should have known that the truck
driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for more than 24 hours
before the crash and should not have been on the road.
Morgan spent months recuperating from his injuries. The
comedian's planned series for the FXX cable and satellite
television channel was put on hold. The company said last year
the show would be kept in the pipeline.
Federal investigators said Roper was driving about 20 miles per
hour (32 km per hour) over the speed limit just before the
crash.
Wal-Mart had said the injuries were caused wholly, or in part,
because the survivors of the crash had failed to wear seat
belts.
Roper has pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide
and assault-by-auto.
(Additional reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru;
Editing by Mary Milliken and David Gregorio)
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