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DAWN R. REFFNER, and BRIAN C.
REFFNER, her hu.band,
Plaintith
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PEN~'SYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
v.
'/ '.. II .,. I il;'.(' j-.. 'I'....
NO.
JAMES KNOCHE, and SCHULTZ'S
LANDSCAPING , MAINTENANCE,
Detendants
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COMPLAINT
1. Plaintift. Dawn R. Rettner and Brian C. Rettner are
hu.band and wite, adult individuals, citizens ot the Commonwealth
ot Pennsylvania, who reside at 212 Cotteetown Road, Dillsburg, York
County, penn.ylvania.
2. Detendant James Knoche is an adult individual, citizen ot
the Commonwealth ot Pennsylvania, who resides at 206 North 32nd
Street, Camp Hill, CUmberland County, Pennsylvania.
3. Detendant Schultz's Landscaping , Maintenance is a
land.caping bu.inesB maintaining an address at 300 North 17th
Street, Camp Hill, cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
4. The tacts and occurrences hereinatter related took place
on or about October 31, 1994, at approximately 7:45 a.m., on Route
15, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
5. At that time and place, Plaintiff Dawn R. Rettner was
operatinq a 1988 Astro minivan (1) and was travellinq north on
Route 15, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
84955/CLN
6. At that time and place, Defendant James Knoche was
operating a pickup truck towing a trailer full of landscape
equipment and was travelling north on Route 15, directly behind
Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner.
7. At that time and place, Defendant James Knoche operated
the truck in the course and scope of his employment with Defendant
Schultz's Landscaping' Maintenance.
8. At that time and place, traffic was moving elowly and
Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner applied her brakes and stopped in a line
of traffic.
9. At that time and place, Defendant James Xnoche operated
Defendant Schultz's Landscaping' Maintenance's vehicle at a high
rate of speed, failed to stop for the line of stopped traffic and
struck the Reffner vehicle.
10. At that time and place, the front portion of Defendant
Schultz's Landscaping vehicle violently collided with the rear
portion of the Reffner vehicle.
comrr I
Dawn R. Reffner and Brian C. Reffner
v. James Xnoche
11. Paragraphs 1 through 10 of Plaintiffs' Complaint are
incorporated herein by reference.
u. The foregoing accident and all at the injuries and
daaage. .et torth hereinatter sustained by Plaintitfs Dawn R.
Rettner and Brian C. R8ttner are the direct and proximate result of
the neqligent, careless, wanton, and reckless manner in which
Oefendant Jame. Xnoche operated the pickup truck in the scope and
cour.e of hi. employment for Defendant Schultz's Landscaping ,
Maintenance as follows:
(a) failure to keep alert and maintain a proper watch
for the presence of other motor vehicles on the
hiqhway;
(b) failure to have his vehicle under such control as
to be able to stop within the assured clear
distance ahead;
(c) failure to apply his brakes in sufficient time to
avoid strikinq the Reffner vehicle;
(d) failure to travel at a safe speed;
(e) failure to keep a proper watch for traffic on the
highway;
(f) failure to take reasonable evasive action to avoid
the accident;
(g) failure to drive his vehicle with due regard for
the highway and traffic conditions which were
existing and at which he was or should have been
aware;
(h) failure to keep proper and adequate control over
his vehicle, and;
(i) driving his vehicle upon the highway in a manner
endanqering persons and property and in a reckless
manner with careless disregard to the rights and
safety at others and in violation of the Motor
Vehicle Code ot the Commonwealth ot Pennsylvania.
3
COUJl'l' II
Dawn R. Reffner and Brian C. Reffner
v. Schultz's Landscacina & Maintenance
13. Paragraphs 1 through 12 ot Plaintiffs' complaint are
incorporated herein by reference.
14. The foregoing accident and all of the injuries and
damages set forth hereinafter sustained by Plaintiffs Dawn R.
Reffner and Brian C. Reffner are the direct and proximate result of
the careless, wanton, and reckless manner in which Defendant
Schultz's Landscaping & Maintenance employed Defendant James Knoche
and entrusted Defendant Knoche with the pickup truck as follows:
(a) hiring and retaining a driver whom it was aware or
should have been aware was not competent and
qualified to operate a truck on the public highways
and who did not exercise the increased care and
precautions necesRary with a truck and trailer;
(b) failing to properly train and instruct its driver
in the proper manner of operating its truck;
(c) permitting Defendant Knoche to operate its truck
although he knew or should have known that Mr.
Knoche did not have any training, experience and
judqment to adequately control and operate it;
(d) hiring, instructing and retaining its operator and
maintaining its truck in a manner which endangers
persons and property without due regard for the
rights and safety of others on the highway and in
violation of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code;
(e) permitting Defendant Knoche to operate the truck
although it knew or should have known that he was
careless or reckless in the operation of trucks or
other motor vehicles;
4
18. Because of the nature of her injuries, Plaintiff Dawn R.
Reffner has been advised and, therefore, avers that she may be
forced to incur eimilar expenses in the future, and claim is made
therefor.
19. "S a result of the aforementioned collision and resulting
injuries, Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner has undergone and in the future
will undergo great physical and mental suffering, great
inconvenience in carrying out his daily activities, loss of life's
pleasures and enjoyment, and claim is made therefor.
:lO. As a result of the aforementioned collision and resulting
injuries, Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner has been and in the future will
be subject to great humiliation and embarrassment, and claim is
made therefor.
U. As a result of the aforementioned collision and resulting
injuries, Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner has sustained work loss, loss
of opportunity and a permanent diminution of her earning power and
capacity, and claim is made therefor.
:l:l. Plaintiff Dawn R. Reffner continues to be plagued by
persistent pain and limitation and, therefore, avers that her
injuries may be of a permanent nature, causing residual problems
for the remainder of her lifetime, and claim is made therefor.
6
CUlM II
Brian C. Rettner v. James Knoche
and SChultz's LandscaDina , Maintenance
23. Paragraphs 1 through 22 ot Plaintifts' Complaint are
incorporated herein by reterence.
24. As Il result ot the atorementioned collision and resulting
injurie. .ustained by hi. wite, Plaintitt Dawn R. Rettner,
Plaintift Brian C. Rettner has been and may in the tuture be
deprived ot the care, companionship, consortium, and society ot his
wite, allot which will be to his great detriment, and claim is
made theretor.
WHEREFORE, Plaintitts Dawn R. Rettner and Brian C. Rettner
demand jud91llent against Detendants James Knoche and Schultz'.
Landscaping , Maintenance in an amount in excess ot Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), exclusive ot interest and costs and
in excess of any jurisdictional amount requiring compulsory
arbitration.
lock, Esqu re
1.0. 281
450 rth Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 238-6791
Attorney for Plaintiffs
Date: February 26, 1996
VERIfICATION
We, DAWN R. REFFNER and BRIAN C. REFFNER, her husband,
Plaintitts have read the toregoing PLAINTIrrS' COMPLAINT and do
swear or attirm that the facts set forth in the foregoing are true
and correct to the best of our knowledge, information and belief.
We understand that this Verification is made subject to the
penalti.s ot 18 Pa.C.S.A., Section 4904, relating to unsworn
talsitication to authorities.
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Dawn R. Reffner
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tlr an cr:~Reffner
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Date: ,7/1/1'11/
85259/HLM
9-10.
are denied.
Pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 1029(e), paragraph 9-10
COUNT I
11. Paragraphs 1-10 above, are incorporated herein by
reference.
12. Pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 1029(e), denied.
WHEREFORE, Defendant Knoche demands judgment in his favor,
together with costs, and against Plaintiffs as to Count I of
their Complaint.
COUNT II
13. Paragraphs 1-12, above, are incorporated herein by
reference.
14. Pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 1029(e), denied.
WHEREFORE, Defendant Sch'lltz's Landscaping & Maintenance
demands judgment in its favor, together with costs, and against
Plaintiffs with respect to Count II of their Complaint.
CLAIM I
15. paragraphs 1-14, above, are incorporate herein by
reference.
16-22. Pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 1029(e), denied.
WHEREFORE, Defendants demand judgment in their favor,
together with costs, and against Plaintiffs with respect to
nClaim In of their Complaint.
CLAIM II
23. Paragraphs 1..22 above, are incorporated herein by
reference.
24. Pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 1029(e), denied.
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