How Much Did Tracy Morgan Get From Walmart? Discover the reported settlement figures, crash details, and what remains unconfirmed.
How much did Tracy Morgan get from Walmart after the 2014 truck accident that seriously injured him and killed his friend, comedian James McNair? The exact amount Morgan personally received has never been publicly confirmed.
Walmart and Morgan reached a confidential settlement in May 2015. Although media reports have widely discussed a figure of approximately $90 million or more, that number should not be presented as Morgan’s confirmed individual settlement. The available reporting provides useful context about the settlement, the accident, and the legal proceedings that followed. Here is what is known ,and what remains unconfirmed.
For another example of Walmart-related litigation, see our article on Walmart Zest, a separate legal dispute involving trade-secret allegations.
How Much Did Tracy Morgan Get From Walmart?
The most accurate answer is that the exact amount Tracy Morgan received from Walmart remains undisclosed in publicly available sources.
Here are the key facts:
- Confirmed: Tracy Morgan and Walmart reached a settlement in May 2015. The financial terms were not publicly disclosed.
- Reported but disputed: Media reports circulated a figure of approximately $90 million in connection with the accident-related payouts. However, this estimate was not confirmed as Morgan’s individual settlement.
- What Morgan’s lawyer said: In 2017, Morgan’s attorney, Benedict Morelli, challenged the widely reported $90 million figure. He said it was “not even close to the number” but did not reveal whether the actual amount was higher or lower.
- A separate payment: Walmart agreed to a reported $10 million settlement for the children of James McNair, who died in the accident. This was separate from Morgan’s settlement.
In 2017, reporting based on court documents related to a dispute between Walmart and its insurers suggested that Walmart’s payouts to Morgan and another injured passenger, Ardley Fuqua, might together have exceeded $90 million. That reporting did not establish the exact amount Morgan personally received.
The exact amount Tracy Morgan personally received from Walmart is not publicly confirmed. The frequently repeated $90 million figure should not be treated as an established fact about his individual payment.
What Happened in the Tracy Morgan Walmart Truck Accident?
The accident occurred in the early hours of June 7, 2014, near Cranbury, New Jersey, on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Morgan and several other passengers were travelling in a limousine van after a performance in Delaware when a Walmart tractor-trailer struck the van from behind. The collision involved multiple vehicles and caused serious injuries.
The consequences were devastating:
- James McNair: The comedian, also known as “Jimmy Mack,” died in the crash. He was a friend and mentor to Morgan.
- Tracy Morgan: Morgan suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones.
- Other passengers: Several other people in the van were injured, including passengers who sustained serious injuries.
The crash led to civil claims against Walmart and a separate criminal proceeding involving the truck driver.
What Did Investigators Find?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident. Its final investigation identified driver fatigue as the probable cause of the crash. The driver’s delayed reaction to slowing and stopping traffic in an active work zone, together with driving above the posted speed limit, also contributed to the collision.
The truck was travelling at approximately 65 mph in a construction zone with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Contemporary reports based on the investigation stated that the driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for more than 28 hours.
The NTSB also found that the passengers’ failure to use available seat belts and properly adjusted head restraints contributed to the severity of their injuries. This finding concerned the severity of the injuries, not the primary cause of the crash.
What Happened to the Walmart Truck Driver?
The Walmart truck was driven by Kevin Roper. Following the crash, he faced criminal charges related to the fatal collision and the injuries suffered by passengers.
In November 2016, Roper accepted an arrangement that allowed him to enter New Jersey’s pretrial intervention program. According to contemporary reporting, successful completion of the program’s 300 hours of community service and other requirements would allow the charges to be dismissed.
This criminal proceeding was separate from the civil claims against Walmart. The criminal case concerned the driver’s conduct, while the civil claims sought compensation for injuries and losses arising from the accident.
Why Can a Serious Truck Accident Lead to a Large Settlement?
A settlement following a serious accident can reflect several kinds of losses. Depending on the evidence and applicable law, a personal injury claim may involve:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, and future medical care.
- Long-term injuries: Serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and fractures, may have lasting effects on a person’s daily life.
- Lost income: An injured person may lose earnings during recovery or experience reduced earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: A claim may account for physical pain and certain effects on a person’s quality of life.
- Litigation risk: The strength of the evidence and the potential outcome of a trial can affect settlement negotiations.
These are general considerations in serious personal injury cases. The confidential terms of Morgan’s agreement do not reveal how much was allocated to any particular category or how each factor influenced the final amount.
It would therefore be inaccurate to calculate or claim the precise value of Morgan’s settlement based solely on his injuries or the reports about the accident.
Why Is Tracy Morgan’s Settlement Amount Not Public?
When Morgan and Walmart announced their settlement in May 2015, they did not disclose the financial terms. Contemporary reporting also noted that the parties sought to keep documents concerning the settlement confidential.
The absence of public settlement figures means readers cannot independently confirm the exact amount Morgan received. It also means that media estimates must be distinguished from disclosed settlement terms.
The available sources do not establish every reason the parties chose confidentiality. It would be speculative to claim that the agreement was kept private for a particular business or publicity-related reason without evidence supporting that claim.
Tracy Morgan’s Recovery After the Accident
Morgan faced a difficult recovery after suffering serious injuries in the crash. Reporting at the time described his traumatic brain injury, broken leg, and broken ribs, as well as the challenges he experienced during recovery.
His injuries help explain why the accident led to substantial civil litigation. However, the severity of an injury alone does not reveal the amount of a confidential settlement. The precise financial terms of Morgan’s agreement with Walmart remain undisclosed.
FAQs
How much did Tracy Morgan get from Walmart?
The exact amount Morgan personally received has not been publicly confirmed. Reports have circulated estimates of approximately $90 million or more in connection with the accident-related payouts, but that figure should not be presented as his verified individual settlement.
Did Tracy Morgan personally receive $90 million?
Publicly available sources do not establish that Morgan personally received $90 million. His attorney challenged the widely reported figure in 2017 but did not disclose the actual settlement amount.
How much did Walmart pay James McNair’s children?
The Associated Press reported in March 2015 that Walmart agreed to a separate $10 million settlement for McNair’s children, based on court documents.
When did Tracy Morgan settle his lawsuit against Walmart?
Morgan and Walmart announced their settlement in May 2015, less than a year after the June 2014 crash. The financial terms were confidential.
What caused the Tracy Morgan Walmart truck accident?
The NTSB identified driver fatigue as the probable cause. The driver’s delayed reaction to slowing and stopped traffic and his operation of the truck above the posted speed limit also contributed to the crash.
Key Taking
- So, how much did Tracy Morgan get from Walmart? The exact amount he personally received remains unconfirmed in public sources.
- The often-repeated $90 million figure was disputed by Morgan’s attorney and should not be treated as a confirmed individual payment. Reporting based on court documents suggested that Walmart’s payouts to Morgan and another injured passenger might together have exceeded that amount, while the McNair family’s reported $10 million settlement was separate.
- The case illustrates how serious truck accidents can lead to complex personal injury claims and confidential settlements. It also shows why reported estimates should never be confused with confirmed settlement amounts.
Additional Resources:
- NTSB: Official Crash Investigation (HWY14MH012): The federal investigation page for the June 7, 2014 Cranbury, NJ crash. It gives the probable cause (truck driver fatigue and speed in a work zone) and the safety recommendations.
- CBS News: Tracy Morgan and Walmart Settle Lawsuit Over Fatal Crash: The original May 2015 report on the settlement. It includes Morgan’s statement that Walmart “did right by me and my family.”
- CBS News: Insurers Challenge Walmart’s Settlement With Tracy Morgan: A June 2017 report on Walmart’s insurers disputing the payout. It says the settlement was reported to be as high as $90 million, and Morgan’s lawyer says he can’t confirm whether the real figure is higher or lower.
- Insurance Journal: Wal-Mart, Liberty Mutual Insurers Settle Over Tracy Morgan Crash: A Reuters report from August 2017 on the insurance dispute ending. It explains how court documents point to a total above $90 million.
- CBS New York / AP: Children of Comedian Killed in Tracy Morgan Crash Win $10 Million Settlement: The report on the McNair children’s separate $10 million settlement, which came out of court papers filed in Westchester County.
