Ford F-150 Lift Kit Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Holloway Family Sues Courtesy Ford, Installer and Lift-Kit Companies

The widow of a Georgia man killed in a January 2026 head-on crash has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the driver of a Ford F-150, the dealer that sold the truck, the business that installed its aftermarket suspension lift kit, and companies tied to the lift-kit equipment.

Lolita Holloway filed the suit in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia, in September 2026, over the death of her husband, Charles Holloway Jr. The complaint alleges that a six-inch aftermarket lift kit raised the F-150’s ride height, suspension geometry and crash structures so far above factory specifications that the truck bypassed the Toyota Tundra’s crash protection and entered its occupant compartment. Holloway’s attorneys at The Cooper Firm, including Rebekah Cooper, represent her, according to Repairer Driven News.

These are allegations, not findings. No defendant has been found liable, and the case is at an early stage. It is not a class action, and there is no settlement or claim form.

Ford F-150 Lift Kit Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Plaintiff	Lolita Holloway, wife of Charles Holloway Jr.
Decedent	Charles Holloway Jr.
Court	State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia
Filed	September 2026
Defendants named in reporting	Scott Douglas Kneiss (driver), Courtesy Ford (dealer), GRJ Offroad, Sport Truck, Fox Factory (Sport Truck’s holding corporation) and RealTruck
Vehicles	Ford F-150 with a six-inch aftermarket lift; Toyota Tundra
Crash date	January 8, 2026
Plaintiff’s counsel	The Cooper Firm (Rebekah Cooper)
Class action	No
Settlement or claim form	None
Case number	Not verified from a public court docket

What Happened to Charles Holloway Jr. in the January 2026 Georgia Crash?

According to the lawsuit, as reported by Repairer Driven News, Scott Douglas Kneiss crossed the center line in the late morning of January 8, 2026, and struck Charles Holloway Jr.’s Toyota Tundra head-on. The complaint calls it an otherwise survivable crash.

Earlier reporting from The Legal Advocate, citing the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, said Holloway, 63, of Cartersville, was killed on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville at about 10 a.m., and that Kneiss, 61, had been charged with vehicular homicide, failure to maintain lane and driving with an expired tag, with the crash still under investigation. The status of those charges was not reviewed for this article, and charges are not convictions.

What Does the Holloway Lawsuit Allege About the Six-Inch Lift Kit?

The complaint alleges that the lift kit:

• raised the F-150’s ride height, suspension geometry, frame rails and crash structures well above factory specifications and the crash-compatibility zones engineered into vehicles
• caused the F-150’s elevated frame rails and crash structures to bypass the Tundra’s frame rails, crash-energy management systems and occupant-protection structures
• interfered with and degraded the F-150’s crash-avoidance, collision-mitigation and warning systems, so that they could not operate as designed
• led to catastrophic intrusion into the Tundra’s driver survival space

Why Are Courtesy Ford, GRJ Offroad, Sport Truck, Fox Factory and RealTruck Named?

The complaint alleges that Courtesy Ford, GRJ Offroad, Sport Truck, Fox Factory and RealTruck caused or worsened the fatal intrusion by designing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing, installing, integrating, promoting and selling a lift kit that defeated crash compatibility. It also says they knew or should have known that raising the suspension above factory specifications created an unreasonable danger to other motorists, pointing to prior crashes and claims, engineering analysis, crash testing and industry literature, and that they had a continuing duty to warn.

Being named does not mean a company was responsible. Each defendant’s role has to be decided as the case goes on.

What Does Georgia Law Say About Suspension Lifts?

The complaint cites a Georgia law that makes it unlawful to alter the suspension of a private passenger vehicle that may be operated on a public street or highway by more than two inches above or below the factory recommendation, and says the law protects drivers from modifications that affect handling, stability and crash compatibility. How that law applies here is for the court to decide.

Is the Holloway Lift Kit Lawsuit a Class Action or Settlement?

No. It is an individual wrongful-death case by Charles Holloway Jr.’s widow. Other F-150 or Tundra owners, or people with lift kits, cannot join it, and there is no settlement, claim form or deadline. For how real settlement claims work, see How To Claim A Lawsuit Settlement?

What Happens Next in the Holloway Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

The defendants will respond to the complaint or move to dismiss. Then comes discovery, which may include inspecting the vehicles and the lift kit and expert analysis of crash dynamics, suspension geometry and safety systems. The case could end in dismissal, settlement or trial. For background on this kind of case, see What Is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need to Know and Wrongful Death Lawyer, What Families Can Sue For.

What Should Georgia Drivers With Lifted Trucks Know?

The lawsuit does not mean every lifted truck is unsafe or illegal. It is a reminder to understand how a modification changes ride height, suspension geometry and safety systems. Keep records of the lift kit’s maker and model, the installation instructions, the installer and date, receipts, alignment and suspension records, and inspections, and follow the kit’s installation instructions and state requirements.

Ford F-150 Lift Kit Lawsuit Key Dates

Date	Event
January 8, 2026	Head-on crash that killed Charles Holloway Jr.
September 2026	Lolita Holloway files the wrongful-death lawsuit in Gwinnett County
October 6, 2026	Repairer Driven News reports on the complaint
Future	Defendants’ responses, discovery, motions, and settlement or trial

Frequently Asked Questions About the Ford F-150 Lift Kit Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Who filed the lift kit wrongful death lawsuit?

Lolita Holloway, the wife of Charles Holloway Jr., in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Who is being sued?

Scott Douglas Kneiss, Courtesy Ford, GRJ Offroad, Sport Truck, Fox Factory and RealTruck, according to reporting on the complaint.

How high was the F-150 lifted?

About six inches, according to the lawsuit.

What does the lawsuit say caused Charles Holloway Jr.’s death?

It alleges the lifted F-150’s elevated frame and crash structures bypassed the Tundra’s crash protection and entered the occupant compartment.

Has anyone been found liable?

No. The allegations have not been proven.

Is it a class action?

No. It is an individual lawsuit with no claim form.

What is the case number?

Not verified from a public court docket, so it is not given here.

Bottom Line on the Ford F-150 Lift Kit Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Lolita Holloway’s September 2026 lawsuit alleges that a six-inch aftermarket lift kit on a Ford F-150 contributed to her husband’s death in a January 8, 2026 head-on crash in Georgia, and it names the driver, the dealer, an installer and lift-kit companies. The claims are allegations at an early stage, and there is no class action, settlement or claim form.

Sources

• Repairer Driven News, “Dealer, installer and manufacturers of aftermarket suspension lift kit sued in wrongful death case,” October 6, 2026, reporting on the complaint
• The Legal Advocate, report on the January 8, 2026 crash, citing the Hall County Sheriff’s Office

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Allegations and criminal charges are not findings of fact or convictions.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against Repairer Driven News’ October 6, 2026 report on the complaint and The Legal Advocate’s report citing the Hall County Sheriff’s Office; the case number has not been verified against the Gwinnett County court docket, as of October 7, 2026. Last Updated: October 7, 2026.