Groom sues wedding coach company over deadly Hunter Valley bus crash
The groom who hired a wedding coach that crashed in the Hunter Valley in 2023, killing 10 people, is suing the hire company for alleged deceitful conduct. The lawsuit is expected to hinge on whether false representations were made by the company about its drivers.
A devastating bus crash in the Hunter Valley in 2023, which killed 10 people and injured 25, has led to a civil lawsuit against the wedding coach hire company. Mitchell Gaffney, the groom who hired the coach for his wedding, is suing Linq Buslines for alleged deceitful conduct.
Mr. Gaffney booked the 57-seat Linq Buslines coach for $1,330.56 to transport wedding guests to and from his winery wedding in June 2023. However, the coach, driven by Brett Andrew Button, never arrived at its destination after flipping at a roundabout in Greta, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
In 2024, Button was sentenced to a maximum 32 years in jail in the Newcastle District Court after being found guilty of impaired driving. Sentencing judge Roy Ellis stated that in his 50 years in the justice system, he had "never dealt with a case that contained anywhere near the devastation".
The civil action filed in the NSW District Court by Mr. Gaffney is expected to allege that Linq Buslines falsely represented itself. In Australia, bus companies have a strict legal duty to ensure their drivers are medically and physically fit to drive.
During sentencing proceedings, Button accepted that he was impaired by the opioid tramadol on the night of the crash. Mr. Gaffney's case is expected to focus on whether false representations were made by Linq Buslines.
In a separate action, Linq Buslines pleaded guilty to heavy vehicle safety breaches and was fined $650,000 in August. The company admitted to recruiting Button after he had been stood down from a previous employer for opioid dependency, posing a significant risk.
Linq Buslines is no longer trading after its bus contracts were not renewed and its accreditation was terminated in March. A directions hearing for Mr. Gaffney's case is listed for October 23.