UGA player’s daddy looks for $2M from deadly crash
Attorneys representing the daddy and estate of a Georgia football player killed in a January automobile wreck have informed the board of regents of the University System of Georgia that they plan to seek $2 million in damages for his wrongful death, according to files obtained by ESPN through an open records demand Tuesday.Attorneys representing
Devin Willock’s daddy, Dave, sent out a legal notice to the board of regents and others on April 11, which is required when submitting legal action versus state entities in Georgia. State agencies can’t be sued for more than$2 million under Georgia law.Devin Willock, an offending lineman, and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy were eliminated in a Jan. 15 wreck, hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony on school. Authorities alleged that LeCroy was driving an SUV that was racing star defensive deal with Jalen Carter’s SUV prior to the wreck.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Previous Georgia player Warren McClendon and another female staffer, Tory Bowles, were hurt however survived.According to cops
, LeCroy’s SUV was going 104 mph when it left the roadway and struck 2 power poles and numerous trees. Police said her blood
alcohol concentration was.197, about 2 1/2 times the legal limitation in Georgia.Dave Willock’s lawyers declare that UGA officials knew LeCroy’s driving history, that includes 4 speeding tickets over the previous six
years.”To be clear, UGA and [University of Georgia Athletic Association] agents and workers negligently turned over a vehicle to LeCroy,”the attorneys composed in the legal notice.”Also, UGA and UGAAA representatives and staff members negligently hired, supervised, trained, and maintained LeCroy. “The legal notification indicated that the University of Georgia Athletic Association, its staff members and LeCroy’s estate would be taken legal action against individually from the board of regents.The Georgia Athletic Association had rented the Ford Exploration that LeCroy was driving for recruiting. In an interview with ESPN on March 3, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said it was not LeCroy’s job to get players home that night. When asked if LeCroy was expected to be driving the SUV at the time of the accident, Smart responded:”Absolutely not. Absolutely not.”Dave Willock’s attorneys allege that LeCroy was “instructed to keep the automobile the entire weekend, and to be on call that weekend to serve coaches, employees and players as required during the championship events that weekend.”
“Supervisors providing keys, and so on to hiring assistants for the function of amusing players and recruits over the Championship weekend is clear, but UGA denying those realities in the media after the occasions is bad form at finest,”
Dave Willock’s lawyers composed in the legal notification.” Public remarks by the UGA Athletic Director [Josh Brooks], managers and administrators lessening their function in this occurrence and blaming LeCroy does not lead the way, and it is less than anticipated. “In a statement on Tuesday, UGA spokesperson Greg Trevor disputed the attorneys’claims that the UGA athletics department provided alcohol to LeCroy at champion event events. “While we continue to grieve for the Willock household, the need letter from an attorney for Devin’s dad has plenty of errors,”Trevor wrote in the statement. “[ Willock’s attorney] has actually not offered the university with any sources or evidentiary bases to support these negligent claims. As we have actually made clear, individual use of automobiles rented for recruiting activities was strictly restricted. Ms. LeCroy was not engaged in athletic department tasks around the time of the accident, and her individual use of the car after her recruiting responsibilities ended previously that evening was therefore unapproved. “Carter, a prospective first-round pick in this week’s NFL draft, pleaded no contest on March 16 to misdemeanor charges of negligent driving and racing. Carter was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a$ 1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service and will go to a state-approved protective driving course.
By solving the matter, according to his lawyer, Kim Stephens, the state is forever disallowed from bringing surcharges against Carter.