Civil suits filed in pair of cases
Dechert sued by driver of struck motorcycle; Kokomo couple sues KPD, officer
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Dechert sued by motorcycle driver
Local attorney and Howard County public defender Craig Dechert has been sued again in connection to his alleged drunk driving incident in May. The driver of the motorcycle Dechert struck, Domanic Robson, claims he has suffered injuries and is seeking compensation.
In the civil filing which took place on Sept. 13, Robson claims that he “sustained serious physical injuries which may be permanent and continues to suffer physical and mental pain.” Robson further alleges that he has incurred medical expenses along with “the loss of a whole and useful life.”
Robson is seeking compensatory relief for the injuries and resulting expenses, as well as punitive damages for conduct the suit describes as “heedless and wanton disregard of the consequences and rights of (Robson).”
Dechert was arrested on May 23 in Hamilton County for OWI Endangering a Person. Criminal charges of Causing Serious Bodily Injury When Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Level 5 Felony); OWI Endangering a Person (Class A Misdemeanor); and Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More (Class A Misdemeanor) were filed against him on June 30.
The probable cause affidavit for the case shows that Dechert was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse when he allegedly struck a motorcycle at the intersection of 266th Street and U.S. 31. He admitted to the officer on the scene that he was the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle.
A passenger on the motorcycle, Amanda Robson, filed a civil suit against Dechert on June 10.
Kokomo couple sues city over traffic accident
A Kokomo couple filed suit against the Kokomo Police Department and Officer Travis Cooper on Sept. 12 in connection to a traffic accident on June 16, 2021. Trevor Richmond and Mamie Rasmus are seeking relief for injuries and expenses resulting from a collision which took place during a high-speed chase through the city.
The suit claims that the couple’s 2020 Toyota Tacoma was struck by Cooper as he operated a city-owned 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe in a “careless and negligent” manner while traveling at a high rate of speed on Purdum Street. The collision took place at the intersection of Purdum and Markland Avenue.
According to KPD records, Cooper was in pursuit of a white Dodge Charger that fled after a traffic stop. The collision resulted in injuries to Richmond, Rasmus, and Cooper.
The suit alleges that Cooper “failed to obey the rules of the road,” and stated that he “failed to obey traffic signs and signals, specifically a red stop light for southbound traffic on Purdum Street at the intersection with Markland Avenue.”
There is no stop light at the described intersection, though the suit continues to cite a disregard for the signal in later allegations. The nearest stoplight is one block east at the intersection of Markland Avenue and Jay Street.
The plaintiffs claim a loss due to “physical pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, change in lifestyle, inability to work, loss of time, loss of enjoyment of life … income loss and other general and special economic and non-economic damages and losses.”
Richmond and Rasmus are seeking “reasonable” monetary compensation from the officer and the city.