Lawsuit against former Anniston Police Officer set to be heard in November

A former Anniston police officer is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 16 in a lawsuit stemming from an accident that severely injured an 84-year-old man in 2012.

William Curry was flown to UAB Hospital in February 2012 after Thomas Anthony Gassaway’s Ford Crown Victoria patrol car collided with Curry’s 2000 Chevrolet Malibu, .. Curry died two months later in a Jacksonville nursing home, according to his death certificate.

Curry was travelling westbound on Sixth Street when he crossed the northbound lanes of Quintard Avenue into the southbound lanes. Gassaway’s vehicle struck Curry’s on the passenger side in the southbound lanes of Quintard.

Curry suffered severe brain trauma, multiple broken ribs and bruises, according to a lawsuit filed 21 days after the crash by his wife, Louise Curry. Curry alleges Gassaway “negligently and wantonly operated” his vehicle. The suit also alleges Gassaway was travelling at a high speed in pursuit of another vehicle and failed to turn on his lights or his siren at the time of the wreck.

Gassaway resigned from the Police Department In July 2013.

When the original lawsuit was filed, Louise Curry asked for $10 million in damages from Gassaway and the city of Anniston. In March of 2012, an amended complaint was filed to include Alfa Insurance for failing to pay out the policy the Currys had on their car.