A man residing in Kent has initiated legal action in King County Superior Court, seeking compensation for severe injuries sustained in a highway collision that occurred more than two years ago. The civil complaint, submitted on May 4, 2026, targets the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints alongside an unidentified motorist, citing claims of negligence and negligent entrustment.
Court filings indicate that the accident took place on March 16, 2024. The plaintiff, identified in the records as a resident of Kent, was operating a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and was secured by a seatbelt. He was halted in a turn lane while attempting to exit the highway near the junction of Kent Des Moines Road and Military Road South. The lawsuit contends that the vehicle following him failed to reduce speed, resulting in a rear-end impact that the plaintiff asserts was unavoidable.
To ensure all potentially responsible parties are included in the proceedings, the complaint lists the primary driver as “John Doe,” along with “Doe Spouses” and five additional unnamed defendants. Legal representatives for the plaintiff, including Joshua Brumley and James W. Fox of a Kent-based law firm, maintain that the religious institution bears vicarious liability for the incident.
The legal team argues that the church owned the vehicle and held the authority to control its use. They assert that the unidentified driver was serving as an employee or agent of the church at the time of the crash, acting within the scope of their duties. The complaint further alleges that the driver breached Washington state driving standards by failing to maintain proper attention, neglecting to keep a safe lookout, and violating traffic laws outlined in RCW 46.61.
Central to the case is the allegation of negligent entrustment by the church. Counsel for the plaintiff claims the institution allowed the driver to operate the vehicle without conducting adequate background checks or verifying the driver’s safety qualifications. The complaint suggests the church knew, or should have known, that the individual was incompetent or unfit for the task, effectively placing an unsafe driver behind the wheel.
The plaintiff is pursuing general and special damages, along with interest accrued before and after any judgment. Specific financial losses cited in the filing include past and future medical costs for hospitalization and physical therapy, as well as out-of-pocket expenses for household assistance and travel to medical appointments. The complaint also includes a claim for lost wages resulting from the plaintiff’s inability to commute to work following the collision.