was the last thing
Christopher Sparkman
and his wife wanted but the young couple felt they had no choice, his wife
Jamie Lynn Sparkman
said.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Gwinnett County Superior Court, a little over a year after Sparkman was critically injured when a suicidal gunman opened fire at a FedEx facility in Kennesaw.
In the suit, FedEx officials are accused of knowing Geddy Kramer, who shot several workers before fatally shooting himself, was mentally unstable and didn't intervene. It seeks lost wages, medical expenses, compensation for pain and suffering.
In a message on the web site where Jamie Lynn Sparkman has kept supporters updated, she said litigation is "quite honestly the very last thing Christopher and I wanted to endure."
Christopher Sparkman, 29, has endured around 40 surgeries and faces more. After a harrowing setback earlier this year that prompted doctors to place him in a medically induced coma, he was recently able to return home.
His road to recovery is far from over and the couple, newlyweds at the time of the shooting, has struggled financially. Jamie Lynn has said she's had to quit her job to care for her husband, and that he's been denied disability benefits.
Fed Ex issued a statement Monday expressing concern but saying it did not bear responsibility: “While FedEx has not been served the complaint yet, we remain deeply sympathetic to Mr. Sparkman and his family. The tragic and unexpected events that occurred in Marietta a year ago were traumatic for many people, but were not caused by FedEx. Our top priority continues to be providing a safe and secure work environment.”
Jamie Lynn's statement in response said, "We have reached out to them, unsuccessfully. This is the opportunity for FedEx to deal responsibility with this situation. We know everyone will respectfully have their opinions, and we thank you all in advance for your support.
"The future is unknown in many ways, but from what we have understood of that morning it's important to recognize these signs in our friends and coworkers to keep it from happening again.
"Please read and share this report with an open mind, and remember that we have no choice but to deal with this physically, psychologically, financially and emotionally for the rest of our lives."
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