North Carolina fans of comedian David Spade might be interested to learn that the producers of his new comedy “Lights Out” have been slapped with a wrongful death claim stemming from a deadly car accident involving a staffer on the show. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Sept. 10.
On Aug. 1, an accountant for the Comedy Central series was driving his 2018 Infinity Q60S in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles at around 10:30 p.m. when he smashed into an Acura. The force of the collision pushed the Acura onto a nearby sidewalk and into a male pedestrian, who suffered blunt force trauma injuries and later died. According to the lawsuit, which was filed by the victim’s parents, the accountant was “inebriated” when he struck the Acura and started the deadly chain-reaction crash. The suit further claims that Viacom, which is Comedy Central’s parent company, production company Free 90 Media and others are responsible for the accident because they allowed the staffer to become intoxicated at the show’s premiere party on the night of the crash and failed to stop him from driving his vehicle. The suit also alleges that Viacom encouraged employees to drive to the party by providing a valet parking service.
The accountant and the male driver of the Acura are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit. Spade is not named in the complaint. The accountant is additionally facing criminal charges for the crash. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and assessed a $10,000 fine.
Families who lose a loved one in a crash caused by a drunk driver may find it advisable to file a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of an attorney. There are certain types of damages that can be sought in such an action which the attorney can outline.