Affluenza Case Getting National Attention
WFAAWhen a Texas judge handed down a controversial sentence for a Dallas teen last week, the families of the victims of the drunk driving crash are now suing the teen who claimed “affluenza”. This plea was instrumental in preventing 16 year old Ethan Crouch from any real jail time. In June of this year, Breanna Mitchell’s vehicle broke down on the side of a North Texas road. Good Samaritans Hollie and Shelby Boyles stopped to lend a hand to the stranded motorist and were later joined by youth pastor Brian Jennings. The group of four was struck by Crouch who was several times of the legal limit for DUI. Crouch was only sentenced to an alcohol treatment facility and 10 years of probation after he was convicted of drunken driving, despite the fact the crash resulted in the deaths of four people and the serious injury of others. The major component of Crouch’s defense was that, as a rich kid, he was to be held blameless because of “affluenza”. This meant that because of the wealth he has known all of his life in his family, he couldn’t determine right from wrong. A total of five civil lawsuits have been filed, including three lawsuits from the families of the four victims who were killed in the tragic crash, not only from those whom Crouch killed or seriously, but damages are also seeking damages. All told, this is a multi-million dollar lawsuit that may take a long time to sort out who is more at fault and it serves as a very public example of what can come after a DUI accident. If you or someone you love has been injured or lost their life due to the actions of a drunk driver, give our offices a call. You need an experienced attorney who will fight on your side in the Texas courts We can help see that justice is served and that you and your loved ones are given compensation for your medical expenses, on-going long-term care costs, funeral expenses, wrongful death and for your pain and suffering as well.