‘Affluenza’ Teen’s Family Settles Lawsuit For $2 Million

The family of Texas teenager Ethan Couch who killed four people in drunk-driving accident have agreed to pay $2 million to a boy who was paralyzed because of the crash.

The insurance company of the parents of Couch agreed to pay $1 million in cash and another $1 million in an annuity to a trust set up for Sergio Molina, one of 11 people injured in the accident on June 15 of last year.

Molina was one of Seven passengers riding in Couch’s pick up when it flipped after Couch swerved to hit a stranded car and three people who had stopped to help. All four were killed.

Couch, 16 at the time, had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit for adults. He also had Valium in his system.

Molina was paralyzed and can only communicate by smiling and blinking.

The case drew international attention after Couch’s lawyer brought in an expert who said he was coddled so by his wealthy parents that he did not know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The expert used the term “affluenza” for the condition.

The American Psychiatric Association does not recognize “affluenza” as a diagnosis.

Judge Jean Boyd sentenced Couch to 10 years probation and go to a rehabilitation facility that is paid for by his parents. The parents had offered to pay for drug and alcohol treatment center in Newport Beach, California that costs $450,000-a-year.

Couch is now being treated at a state-owned inpatient health facility, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Molina’s parents sued Couch and his parents three months after the accident, saying that his medical expenses were over $600,000 and lifetime care would cost more than $10 million.

As well as the $1 million cash payment, the Couch’s insurer will buy two annuities to make monthly payments of $1,515 and $1,837 to the trust starting in July, and another annuity to cover attorneys’ fees according to abcnews.com.

Molina’s older brother commented on the settlement said “We’re not happy about it, but we just have to take what we got and strive for better days.”

Couch’s defense attorney Reagan Wynn said the criticized the media for focusing on “affluenza” and his client was misuderstood.

The reporting he said of the case had “so twisted the facts that were actually presented in court that I don’t think the truth will ever be able to come out now.”

Five other families of the killed or injured have settle with the Couches, while another is requesting a jury trial.

[Image via dallasnews.com]