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A lawsuit has been filed against Mavis Discount Tire in connection with the deadly Schoharie limousine crash that killed 20 people in October 2018. The suit, filed by the estate of victim Michael Ukaj, alleges that Mavis mechanics knew about a defective rear brake line on the limo but failed to inform the vehicle's operator, Nauman Hussain. According to the Times Union, the lawsuit claims that Mavis employees installed a vice grip on the brake line, disabling one of the brakes on the nearly seven-ton vehicle.
Nauman Hussain, the operator of Prestige Limousine, was convicted in May 2023 on 20 counts of second-degree manslaughter and is serving up to 15 years in prison. The crash, which occurred when the limo lost control and crashed into a parking lot, is considered the worst U.S. highway transportation disaster in decades.
The lawsuit against Mavis is one of the few that has not been settled. Mavis has denied any wrongdoing and has not commented on the lawsuit. The state Department of Transportation had previously cited the limo for safety violations, but the brakes' dangerous condition was not fully addressed.
The case continues to unfold, with the court deciding whether to accept the amended complaint. The victims' families seek justice and accountability for the tragic event that changed their lives forever.