A bit of info on the upcoming but delayed civil trial of defendants: Nauman Hussain and his father, Shahed, also Nauman Hussain's uncle Malik Riaz Hussain, described as "one of Pakistan's most successful real estate tycoons." The other defendant is Mavis.
From the article (which might be behnd a paywall, I have a subscription) "Interviews Mallery's office had done with a former Mavis manager revealed that employees had falsified invoices for maintenance work done on the 18-seat, 31-foot-long Excursion. Mavis also provided the Excursion with a Department of Motor Vehicles inspection sticker, a violation of state regulations that require limos that size to go through state-regulated bus inspections."
In the criminal case Nuaman H admitted guilt but wasn't given jail time. For the civil case, there is what the article describes as a roadblock: "The Long Island insurance company that provided liability coverage to Hussain's small limo operation has gone out of business. The state is liquidating the company's assets.
The Hussains had bought a $500,000 policy with the company, Global Liberty Insurance Co. The firm paid out the proceeds from the policy in October, just days after Global Liberty was taken over by the state. Each of the estates of the victims will receive roughly $24,000 after accounting for the insurer's court-approved legal expenses."
Also, "
But because of the liquidation process, a state judge has ordered a freeze of all litigation involving Global Liberty, which is paying for the defense of the Hussains in the civil cases.
The freeze is likely to create a months-long delay. Attorneys on both sides have been getting ready to ramp up discovery, the process of gathering evidence for trial.
The judge's decision also prompted attorneys for the families to postpone a planned deposition of Nauman Hussain that was initially expected to take place in early December."
So frustrating for these families.
In the Schoharie limo tragedy, victims' families still seek truth