ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) -- A man who took his car into a Oakland County dealership for an oil change is now being sued over the death of a worker.
On March 13, 2020, the man took his Jeep to Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge for a routine appointment. But when a worker -- who didn't know how to drive a stick-shift -- got behind the wheel, the car lurched forward and killed a co-worker at the shop.
Now, two years after the incident, an attorney for the man who lost his life is suing -- but he's not suing the co-worker who hit him, instead he's suing the owner of the Jeep.
WWJ Newsradio 950's legal analyst Charlie Langton says that in Michigan, a boss can't be liable for the death of an employee; however, the car owner can if he hands his keys over to someone else -- which he did.
The family of the worker who died, Jeffrey Hawkins, is seeking $15 million in damages.
According to Fox 2 Detroit, Hawkins was a married 42-year-old, father of four and a lifelong mechanic.
