ATHENS, Ga. — The estate of a former University of Georgia staffer who died alongside a UGA football player hours after celebrating a championship win responded last week to a lawsuit filed by Victoria "Tory" Bowles, a survivor of the crash.
Chandler LeCroy's estate claims it is not liable for the injuries Bowles sustained after the fatal crash on Jan. 15. LeCroy was the driver in the crash that also killed UGA player Devin Willock, 20.
Bowles was seriously injured and another (now former) player in the car, Warren McClendon, escaped serious injury. In their response to the lawsuit filed by Bowles in July, attorneys for LeCroy's estate lists 36 affirmative defenses and denies all allegations concerning LeCroy contained in the suit, arguing the suit is structured to "improperly contain legal arguments and legal conclusions not suited for an initial complaint."
They argue Bowles, who was also a UGA football staffer at the time, knew about the risk and voluntarily undertook the risk that led to the crash and damages complained of in this case when riding with LeCroy on Jan. 15.
In her lawsuit, Bowles partially blames the incident on UGA's athletics association. The lawsuit also casts blame on former football player Jalen Carter and LeCroy, whom police have said were racing each other when the crash occurred. It alleges both were driving at "extreme speeds" of "at least 104.2 mph, while engaged in street racing for 45 seconds before the crash."
In their response, attorneys for LeCroy's estate do not acknowledge any allegations other than the ones that mention her. They ask the claims made against LeCroy's estate be discharged and with no cost to the estate.
If the court does not discharge the suit, attorneys are seeking a jury trial at a future date.
The lawsuit is seeking damages against Carter, the university's athletic association and LeCroy's estate. It argues passengers in LeCroy's vehicle had only a brief period to speak up against such high speed.
Bowles, the lawsuit says, was in the backseat of the vehicle when it drove off the road.
In August, UGA fired Bowles. The move came less than a month after she filed the lawsuit and, according to the law firm representing Bowles in the suit, the university fired Bowles knowing that she was still unable to work due to "her significant and permanent injuries."
Bowles' lawyers allege that the termination is retaliation against her lawsuit filed against the university's athletic association. That lawsuit claims the athletic association negligently entrusted the SUV to another recruiting staffer, LeCroy, who had a history of speeding offenses while Bowles was in the back seat of the car.
The lawsuit filed by Bowles is not the only one filed involving the Jan. 15 crash. The Willock family is also suing several people tied to the incident and seeking $40 million in damages.