He died riding in one of their limos, but Skyline Credit Ride says legendary CBS News correspondent Bob Simon is responsible for his own death.
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Skyline says it was Simon’s “culpable conduct” that caused his death — not its driver.
“Whatever injuries were sustained by the plaintiff or whatever damages were sustained … at the time of the incident involved herein were the result of the culpable conduct of the plaintiff,” who knew the “risks and dangers” of riding in the car.
“Upon information and belief, plaintiff failed to use or misused available seat belts, and thereby contributed to the alleged injuries,” the filing says.
Simon, 73, was killed in February when Skyline driver Abdul Reshad Fedahi, clipped another car and then smashed into a barrier on the West Side Highway.
The “60 Minutes” newsman suffered a massive head injury and had to be cut out of the Lincoln Town Car. He was pronounced dead a short time later at St. Luke’s Hospital.
His widow, Francoise Anne Marie Simon, sued Skyline and Fedahi last month for causing her husband’s wrongful death. The suit said Fedahi, who suffered two broken legs in the crash, should not have been driving for anybody, because of his history of “dangerous, unsafe, careless, erratic and reckless driving.”
The driver, whom the company had fired before, has had multiple convictions for speeding and his driver’s license had been suspended nine times, the suit said.
A lawyer for Simon’s widow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
