Tracy Morgan’s Attorney Reveals Severity of Comedian’s Brain Injury: ‘He’s Fighting to Get Better’

“30 Rock” star’s lawyer Benedict Morelli says Tuesday that it is unclear if he will be “the Tracy Morgan he once was”

Tracy Morgan
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Tracy Morgan has spent the past five months recovering from a traumatic brain injury, but on Tuesday his lawyer Benedict Morelli revealed the severity of his condition and expressed doubts over whether the comedian will ever truly regain his old form.

It’s unclear if the “30 Rock” star will ever be “the Tracy Morgan he once was,” said Morelli, according to the Associated Press.

“He’s fighting to get better, and if there’s a chance for him to be back to the Tracy Morgan he once was, he’s going to try to do that,” his attorney continued. “But we just don’t know because of the severity of the injuries that he sustained and the fact that he had such a severe brain injury.”

Morgan’s severe brain trauma stemmed from a June 7 highway accident that also resulted in a broken leg, nose, and ribs. Morelli spoke out about the actor’s condition on Tuesday while at a scheduling conference in New Jersey for Morgan’s high-profile lawsuit against Wal-Mart.

The accident, which killed one and injured three others, occurred when a Wal-Mart truck slammed into a limo carrying Morgan and his friends.

“When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very long time to find out how you’re going to do and how much you’re going to recover,” Morelli continued. “You just don’t know. So that’s where he is. He’s still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he’s just not better. We’re hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury’s out.”

Morgan’s lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages against Wal-Mart, but the company issued a response in September saying the victims’ injuries were exacerbated by Morgan and his friends not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Kevin Roper, the Wal-Mart truck driver who collided with Morgan, was charged with death by auto and multiple counts of assault following the fatal accident. But Morgan did not name him in the lawsuit.

Attorneys representing Wal-Mart did not comment at Tuesday’s legal conference.

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