Two defendants are seeking to move a potential trial in a lawsuit filed by Gavin Knupp’s family off the Eastern Shore.
On Monday, Tyler Mailloux, a Berlin man serving 18 months for a traffic offense in Knupp’s death, and his mother, Kearston Frey, filed a motion to remove the case from Worcester County Circuit Court.
The defendants in the civil suit argue they cannot have a fair and impartial jury trial if the case remains in any circuit court on the Eastern Shore.
“The pretrial publicity has been overwhelmingly hostile, pervasive, continuing and prejudicial against Movants,” the motion reads. “This publicity has created an excessively adverse influence and local passion amongst potential jurors against Movants such that there is ‘reasonable ground’ to require removal …”
On June 25, Tiffany and Ray Knupp and their daughter, Summer Knupp, filed a lawsuit against Mailloux, Frey, Mailloux’s stepfather, Ralph DeAngelus, his former employer, Matt Ortt Companies and the Ocean Pines Association, which had a working relationship with the company.
The suit seeks damages on all 16 counts, which includes negligence, wrongful death, negligent entrustment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“This lawsuit is the next step in holding accountable all those responsible for Gavin’s death,” Neil Dubovsky, the Knupp family’s attorney, said in a statement. “Beyond that we will have no comment while litigation is ongoing.”
BS!!!!! Why is he special? Money people make me sick!
I certainly don’t know all of the facts in this case (other than what has been previously shared in the news), but I personally am shocked at the light sentence handed down on the criminal conviction. Considering the judge’s comments from the criminal trial, I was shocked, and as a parent I have absolutely no idea how the family is holding together as I would have completely lost it. I hope real justice can be rendered.