Morgan Freeman Sued By Crash Passenger, Who Denies Mistress Talk

LOS ANGELES — The woman who was with Morgan Freeman the night of a car crash that injured both of them insists she was never romantically linked to Freeman and is suing the actor for negligence. Demaris Meyer and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, held a news conference Wednesday announcing that Meyer has filed a lawsuit against the 71-year-old Academy Award winner.

"I have been labeled as the other woman and have been accused of having caused the breakup of Mr. Freeman's marriage," Meyer said. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I had hoped and prayed that Mr. Freeman or his representatives would have set the record straight and cleared my name, but they have not done so and that is why I have chosen to come forward to tell the truth about our relationship."

In the days after the accident last August, Freeman's lawyer, Bill Luckett, told media outlets that Freeman and his wife of 24 years, Myrna Colley-Lee, had been separated since December 2007 and were getting a divorce. Several media outlets reported that the 48-year-old Meyer was Freeman's mistress.

Meyer said Wednesday she met Freeman the night of the accident at a dinner party at the Bayou Bend Golf and Country Club that she had been invited to by Luckett. Meyer said Freeman had been a "perfect gentleman" that evening and agreed to let her stay at one of three houses on his property, so that she "would have an easier drive to work the next morning."

Allred said the accident occurred when Freeman was driving Meyer's car with Meyer in the passenger seat from Luckett's home in Clarksdale, Miss., to Freeman's property in Charleston, Miss., some 40 miles away.

Meyer would not comment on whether Freeman was drinking that night or specify what caused the accident that left the actor with a broken arm, broken elbow and shoulder damage. Meyer's injuries included a broken left wrist, right scapula and a torn labrum.

"The accident and its aftermath has literally changed my life in every respect," Meyer said. "I sustained numerous injuries. I was unconscious following the accident ... I could not take care of myself for several months. I have not been able to go back to work and still am suffering both physically and emotionally as a result of the accident."

The lawsuit claims that Freeman failed to keep a proper lookout, maintain attention, keep the vehicle under control and obey the posted speed limit.

Meyer is suing for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, permanent disability and property damage. Allred did not specify how much in damages that Meyer, who worked as an executive assistant, is seeking with the lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court in Northern Mississippi. She said that Freeman has only provided "minimal support" for Meyer following the accident.

Freeman, who won an Oscar for his performance in 2004's "Million Dollar Baby," co-starred in last summer's "The Dark Knight." His screen credits also include "Bruce Almighty," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Driving Miss Daisy."

Freeman and Meyer were traveling on a dark, two-lane highway that cuts through the expansive farmlands of the Mississippi Delta when the car ran off the side of the road, authorities said last August. The vehicle flipped several times but landed upright in a ditch about 5 miles west of Charleston.

"We're confident this will all be resolved," Freeman's publicist, Ken Sunshine, said Wednesday.

Comments

[Maanu]

She's suing him for negligence, but she let him drive her car. Instead of feeling vengeful or greedy, she needs to feel stupid.
No one knew who she was, so she holds a press conference to bolster her "rep".
Gloria Allred, more like AllGREEN, AllWays a bad sign.
I wonder how much "moderate" support from Freeman she got? Probably more than enough.
Morgan, bottom line, chick is broke down, obviously not worth the association.
And you met her through your lawyer? Either he owes you big, or you need a new lawyer.
Glad they're both still alive, though.

[scorpioleidy]

Senior citizen Freeman is getting exactly what he deserves! He ruined his marriage ~ now he's being sued by his so-called I'm-not-his-mistress other woman! HA HA HA! I hope his soon-to-be-ex-wife is laughing all the way to the bank!!!

What's done in the dark (or a car!) will always come to light!

[Tommi2]

All men who have had "oral stimulation" while driving knows it's exciting and dangerous.

[robXdion]

Why is everyone defending Freeman? He's said repeatedly he "doesn't DO race". In other words, he believes in this make-believe world where societal dictums for his racial background don't apply to him. He thinks it's perfectly fine to pretend history never happened. See, this is standard delusional behavior for blacks unwilling to face reality. Compartmentalization isn't working anymore and they don't want to be responsible for challenging perceptions (the integrated prom was a lame attempt at skirting the bigger issues---like Hollywood's minority hiring practices), so they retreat into this lie they tell themselves, hoping rac.ism will go away by ignoring it and their conscience can be free. People do this so they can function, but it's harsh when reality crashes down.

[pfrogger]

just curious, what are "societal dictums for his racial background"?

[InfinteShibumi]

It'd be a better world if none of us "did race." It's just like Barack said, the subject of race becomes stagnant and those who have suffered under it continue to so even when the rest of the world tries to leave it behind. "Doing race" pulls us back into the old arguments. Not just black/white, but israeli/palestinian, serb/croat, hutsi-tutu and every other racial or tribal or other division you can think of. There's even the "you're not really hearing impaired" vs. the 100% deaf community; and let's not forget the blind vs. "you're only legally blind" blind population. I'm so tired of this s___.

[robXdion]

No, you mean you'd prefer if blacks didn't bring it up and let whites and other non-blacks freely act out their prejudicial attitudes. Because blacks speaking up for their identities and culture makes you squeamish and uncomfortable. Isn't THAT what you mean?

We can recognize and celebrate our differences without attaching belittling assumptions to them just to build our own self-image. Because that's what "rac.ism" is really all about.

[raven29520]

Upon first meeting this gentlemen, she immediately took him up on an offer to stay at his house and allowed him to drive her car. What was he going to get out of the deal? Everything comes with a price. Even a good man with a good heart is still a man. It is unfortunate that his lawyer allowed him to be in this situation. Does he not have security folks? After this, I hope he will consider getting some and a driver too. He is a great actor and this is an unfortunate situation. He should know coming from the south, that you can't trust anyone!

[xmw]

Right. I'm not buying the innocent victim act. After just meeting him she was willing to stay on his property to be closer to her job??? How about closer to his money!!! This is such garbage. She has brought this uit knowing it will be settled. Also, why was he driving her car? Perhaps she was the drunk one. She is not going to take any responsibility here. Unfortunate situations befall us all and many time we put our selves in bad ituations. She's a con.

[thisoldbroad]

Every time I see Gloria Allred holding a news conference with yet another wronged woman client I feel guilty. Guilty because all I'm thinking during the whole "press event' is how much this lawyer reminds me of the classic 'ambulance chaser' lawyers - but with better clothes. Can't remember any of her clients or their reasons for being there. Always distracted by the theatre of it all.

Also can't help but wonder why she doesn't fight these battles where they belong, in court. Do her cases ever make it to the courtroom, or is the media blitz encouragement to settle out of court?

[ramblin jack]

Just another person looking to cash in on a rich person's cash.

[sweetwhine]

Expensive lesson for Freeman.

[Ermasdaughter]

LAME!!! She's a gold digger.

[SeanGardner]

Look, she likes dark meat. It's ok. Right?

But the crash exposed their relationship, and because its the deep South, she now has to backtrack and pretend they were just joy riding. Yeah, r-i-i-i-ght.

This whole situation - from the moment it came across the wires months ago - has been nothing but sordid.

[ladylove114]

Dear Sean, You are possibly one of the most misinformed posters here. As a resident of the deep south (actually Mississippi Delta,where the accident happened, born and raised) I can promise you, even though I know you hate to hear it, racially mixed couples are very plentiful here and nobody so much as raises an eyebrow about it. It makes a better story for people that are trying to hold on to racism as an excuse for everything, I do realize that. Morgan Freeman is one of the most admired people in this state by blacks and whites. I do think if Morgan was "dating" that lady it was probably a giant step up for her from anybody else that would date her.

[Sutungpo]

This guy isn't denigrating Freeman, and I think he's most likely right. There is just no other reason for a middle aged woman to be raising so much hell because she was caught with one of our finest actors.

The older generation of the Confederacy will tolerate mixed relationships among it's young because it has to. But it's still seen as a major offense against morality. I'm about the same age, and from Georgia, so I do have some idea. Hell, this woman grew up in the still segregated southern schools of the 60's (at least she did if she's local), and "mixing" was the brother of satanism to those of us raised in the south during this period.

No offense was meant against Mississippi or the Delta as far as I can tell.

The offender is what she is, and Allred is just the worst ambulance chaser, publicity hound and narcissist on the American scene today. Both are below contempt/

[ghenry]

Gloria, everytime you rear your ugly head, a woman's reputation suffers.

[huffyISaHottie]

and a man pays for it

[piquet]

...bravo to both of your swipes

[lil11]

Did she get Scary Spice over $40,000 per month in child support?

[little]

Gold digger!!!

[Anonani]

Gloria Allred is just trying to earn a living and this is how she does it, suing people with lots and lots of money. Lawyers are just so easy to dislike unless they are defending your interests. Morgan Freeman's personal life sounds like maybe it is in shambles. There is a lot to be said about the stability of marriage but I guess even for older folks it doesn't always end up that way.

[sweetwhine]

Morgan needs to take responsibility for himself, learn from it and move on.

[rzan1]

And Gloria swoops in for the kili.

I have always admired Morgan Freeman as an actor, but this iis all so sordid.

[maca]

The public's perception of any woman goes right out the window as soon as opportunistic vulture Gloria Allred shows up on her side. What a despicable witch.

[Milash]

So basically what she's saying is that she saw the house was on fire but decided to walk into it anyway.