Bruce Jenner, who is also known as Caitlyn Jenner, recently made headlines when the former Olympian grace the cover of Vanity Fair. At a time when Jenner is being applauded by many for championing and furthering the rights of transgender individuals, he is also at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from his involvement in a fatal motor vehicle accident this past February that resulted in the death of a 69-year-old woman.
According to court documents, the collision occurred along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu when Jenner rear-ended a white Lexus that had slowed due to a stopped vehicle up ahead. When Jenner’s Cadillac Escalade rear-ended the woman’s car, the force of the collision resulted in her vehicle traveling into the adjacent lane of traffic where it was hit by an oncoming vehicle.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the 69 year old’s two stepchildren who blame Jenner for causing the accident in which their loved one was killed. Among the claims asserted in the suit are that Jenner violated traffic laws and operated a motor vehicle in a “negligence, careless and reckless,” manner. Due to the defendant’s actions and loss of their step-mother, the plaintiffs claim that they have incurred expenses related to damages as well as the loss of “love and affection” from their stepmother.
Responding to the lawsuit, Jenner’s legal team recently refuted the related claims contending that the plaintiffs, who are ages 57 and 60, were not financially dependent on their stepmother. If proven to be true, the plaintiffs may have a difficult time proving their case as “monetary injury as a result of the death,” of a loved one is a vital element in a successful wrongful death case.
The fatal accident remains under investigation and, to date, Jenner has not been deemed at fault. As this case moves forward, we’ll continue to provide updates.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Bruce Jenner fights wrongful-death lawsuit in fatal Malibu crash,” Joseph Serna and Veronica Rocha, May 28, 2015
