Morgan Freeman Sued Over Car Crash

A female passenger in Morgan Freeman's car is suing the Oscar winner for negligence in the August car crash and seeks to disparage rumors that she is the actor's mistress.

According to Reuters, "Demaris Meyer, the passenger, also said that despite media reports to the contrary, she and Freeman met the night of the accident at a country club, where they dined with mutual friends, and that she was not in a romantic affair with him."

"I have been labeled as the 'other woman' and have been accused of having caused the breakup of Mr. Freeman's marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth," Meyer said at a news conference in Los Angeles.

Meyer filed the lawsuit on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Delta Division. The crash in question occurred on August 3, 2008 near the residence that Freeman keeps in Charleston, Mississippi. Meyer contends that Freeman lost control of the car, a Nissan Maxima, causing it to strike a ditch and roll over.

The Reuters article explains why Meyer was in Freeman's car to begin with, "Meyer said she was riding with Freeman that night because they were going to his ranch, since it was closer to her work than a friend's home where she originally planned to stay. She said the actor assured her she would not only have her own bedroom at the ranch, but 'her own house.' 'He was a perfect gentleman and I accepted his offer,' said Meyer, who lives in Tennessee, north of Freeman's Mississippi home.'"

Mississippi authorities have yet to charge Freeman with driving under the influence despite Meyer's claims that he had been drinking before getting behind the wheel.

As a result of the crash, the 71-year-old actor was hospitalized for four days and suffered a broken arm and elbow. But, Meyer's injuries were severe enough that she had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. Her injuries included a blow to the head which resulted in cognitive difficulties and short-term memory loss so she has been unable to return to her job as an executive assistant.

An Associated Press article delves into the specifics of Meyer's lawsuit, "Meyer's lawsuit accuses Freeman of negligence for failing to properly operate the car, and she is seeking unspecified damages in an amount to be proven at trial to cover medical expenses and her permanent disability, among other things."