Caitlyn Jenner Sues Paparazzi For Allegedly Causing 2015 Fatal Car Accident
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Caitlyn Jenner has filed a lawsuit against the paparazzi for allegedly being partly responsible for the the multi-car accident that killed a woman in February 2015.
According to the court documents obtained by People, the “Stalker Defendants” was “harassing [Caitlyn] throughout the day up through the time of the accident,” causing the former Olympian to be visually distracted while driving on the Pacific Coast Highway, thus resulting in the fatal crash that claimed the life of Kimberly Howe.
The court documents state that the photographer should be held partially responsible for the fatal accident and should bear some of the financial responsibility for the damages and legal proceedings attached to it.
“As Jenner was driving her vehicle consistent with all laws and speed limits, the Stalker Defendants, and others acting in concert with them, continuously, negligently, and recklessly operated their vehicles, tracking Jenner.”
Caitlyn Jenner accuses paparazzi of causing fatal car accident, claims she was "stalked." https://t.co/X192sy80tJ pic.twitter.com/1kfy0mGcCn
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) August 5, 2016
“As a direct consequence and result of this stalking, harassing and distracting conduct, [Jenner] was visually distracted, and the negligence and reckless conduct of the Stalker Defendants did contribute to the cause of an accident where seconds and split seconds mattered,” the document reads.
Sgt. Brooks of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station, however, told People back in February 2015 that reports claiming that Jenner was distracted by the paparazzi were false, since there’s “no evidence” that the photographers whom she accused of following her were driving recklessly.
According to police, Caitlyn was fully cooperative with authorities while they were carrying out their investigation of the incident. She passed a field sobriety test and underwent a blood test at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California.
The fast life and racy times of @Caitlyn_Jenner, race car driver https://t.co/UkxcUKAvnj pic.twitter.com/KJcnlDdRpH
— The Drive (@thedrive) May 19, 2016
As reported by The Inquisitr over a year ago, the multi-car accident occurred when Jessica Steindorff stopped her car for undisclosed reasons, causing Howe to abruptly step on the brakes. Behind Howe was Jenner, who according to Sheriff’s investigators, were driving at a speed considered unsafe for traffic conditions. Caitlyn’s car slammed Howe’s car from behind, causing the latter to swerve into oncoming traffic, leading to her death.
Steindorff filed a lawsuit against Jenner, asking for compensatory and punitive damages. In response, Jenner and her insurance company settled with Steindorff for an undisclosed amount that accounts for the damages incurred by the latter’s car as well as the injuries the driver sustained. Before long, Jenner filed her own lawsuit against Steinfordd, accusing the woman of “sitting stopped in the middle of Pacific Coast Highway looking at her cellphone,” and “driving at a speed (zero) unreasonable for the conditions,” and “driving with a suspended license,” all of which allegedly resulted in the fatal accident that killed Howe.
As reported by USA Today in December 2015, Howe’s stepchildren, Dana Redmond and William Howe, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the transgender icon. The suit was dismissed, but no details about the settlement was released to the public. The money involved was reportedly a “very modest amount” due to the stepchildren’s dubious standing in the case. According to TMZ, the money did not come from Jenner and was settled via insurance.
The legal proceedings that came with the multi-car crash have been nothing short of messy. But Caitlyn had no qualms in expressing her sympathy for the family of the deceased 70-year-old driver as well as the other victims involved.
“My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident,” Caitlyn said. “It is a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time.”
“I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible.”
Do you think Caitlyn Jenner is in a justifiable position to file charges against the paparazzi considering all the circumstances involved in the case? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
