Tracy Morgan 'still recovering' from brain injury, says lawyer
It's unclear if the former SNL star will be 'the Tracy Morgan he once was,' said Benedict Morelli
Tracy Morgan is fighting to recover from a severe brain injury suffered in a highway crash more than five months ago, and it's unknown if the actor-comedian will be "the Tracy Morgan he once was," his lawyer said Tuesday.
- Tracy Morgan partly to blame for crash injuries: Wal-Mart court filing
- Tracy Morgan's lawyer says star is struggling after crash
Benedict Morelli said the former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star suffered a traumatic brain injury in the June 7 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, in addition to a broken leg, nose and ribs.
He's still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he's just not better.- Lawyer Benedict Morelli on Tracy Morgan's progress
"He's fighting to get better, and if there's a chance for him to be back to the Tracy Morgan he once was, he's going to try to do that," Morelli said. "But we just don't know because of the severity of the injuries that he sustained and the fact that he had such a severe brain injury."
Lawyers were in court in New Jersey for a scheduling conference in Morgan's lawsuit against Wal-Mart. Morgan wasn't at Tuesday's proceeding, during which lawyers met with the judge to settle on a schedule.
A Wal-Mart truck slammed into the back of a limo van that was carrying Morgan and several friends on their way back from a show in Delaware. One person was killed, and three others were injured, two seriously. Morgan spent several weeks in the hospital and in rehab.
Morelli didn't discuss specific aspects of Morgan's condition, but said he hasn't fully recovered. A comedy series Morgan was to have begun filming in August for FX Network was put on hold after the accident.
Morgan 'still fighting'
"When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very long time to find out how you're going to do and how much you're going to recover," Morelli said. "You just don't know. So that's where he is. He's still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he's just not better. We're hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury's out."
Morgan sued for punitive and compensatory damages. In a response to the lawsuit filed in late September, Wal-Mart contended the victims' injuries were partly due to the fact that they weren't wearing seatbelts.
Attorneys representing Wal-Mart didn't comment after Tuesday's proceeding.
Truck driver Kevin Roper, who is not named in Morgan's lawsuit, was charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto in state court. Last Friday, he filed to have Morgan's lawsuit delayed while that case proceeds. That matter is scheduled to be ruled on next month.
A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board released in June said Roper was driving 65 mph (105 kph) in the 60 seconds before he slammed into the van. The speed limit on that stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike is 55 mph (88 kph) and was lowered to 45 mph (72 kph) that night because of construction.