TMZ reports that Rashee Rice and Theodore “Teddy” Knox have been hit with a $10 million lawsuit. The reporting on the recent legal filing contains new details regarding the March 30 street-racing accident in Dallas, TX. The new reporting casts doubt on the accuracy of prior reports concerning the circumstances of the accident and its aftermath.
Dallas residents Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova filed the lawsuit in Dallas County.
Allegations in the Plaintiffs’ Complaint Indicate Injuries More Severe Than Originally Reported, and the Plaintiffs Are Seeking $10 Million in Punitive Damages Against Rice and Knox.
Plaintiffs Petrovskiy and Gromova are seeking monetary damages from Rice and Knox, including punitive damages. The Cornell Law School offers the following definition of punitive damages:
“Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are the damages awarded separately from the actual damages from an event. Courts generally award punitive damages only when it is determined that the defendant has acted in a particularly harmful way.”
Petrovskiy and Gromova allege they suffered serious bodily injuries including “brain trauma, lacerations that required stitches[,] and internal bleeding.” They also allege that some of the injuries they suffered were “disfiguring.”
The apparent basis for the plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages, in addition to compensatory/actual damages, is that Rice and Knox unjustifiably and illegally left the scene without making any effort to contact or check on those involved in the crash they caused. The plaintiffs decry this conduct of Rice and Knox, noting that some of the victims were “severely injured, bleeding, and visibly distressed.”
Most prior reporting concerning this matter has indicated that the injuries suffered by victims were minor.
If the allegations in this recently filed lawsuit are accurate concerning the severity of injuries, this case becomes correspondingly more serious for Rice and Knox. As a general matter, the more severe the injuries, the more severe the criminal sanctions and the greater the civil damages.
The Criminal Defense Lawyer Hired By Knox Specializes in DUI Cases
Rice is represented by Attorney Royce West, who is also a Democratic Texas State Senator. West has previously stated to the media that Rice desires to make amends to the victims.
Knox also has an attorney. And, an interesting fact about Knox’s attorney is that she specializes in cases involving charges of driving under the influence of controlled substances. Knox’s attorney is Deandra Grant. Her website reflects her specialization in driving under the influence (DUI) cases.
Since Rice and Knox left the scene, their blood alcohol levels were not measured by police. However, marijuana was found in both of the vehicles driven by the football stars. The involvement of an attorney specializing in DUI cases could be viewed as indicative of concern from Rice and/or Knox about possible DUI charges in the offing. And, DUIs that result in injuries can result in serious punishment.
Extreme Speed — Up to 119 Miles Per Hour
During the accident, Rice was driving a leased Lamborghini Urus. Knox was driving a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which is registered to Rice. They attained extreme speeds in the moments leading up to the accident.
According to the Kansas City Star:
“[T]he arrest affidavit in the case stated Rice was driving 119 mph some 4.5 seconds before the crash; Knox was going 116 mph ‘but had slowed to 91 miles per hour about 1.5 seconds before.'”
This story continues to develop rapidly.
Related Stories:
- Update: SMU Mustangs & Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Reportedly Retains Counsel as Dallas Police Seek to Locate Him
- Update: Super Bowl Champion Rashee Rice Cooperating with Authorities
- Rashee Rice Admits Involvement in 6-Car Hit-and-Run
- Rashee Rice Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison
- Rashee Rice Faces Not Only Criminal Charges But Also Civil Lawsuits and Likely NFL Suspension
- Southern Methodist University Beats the NFL and Kansas City Chiefs to the Punch by Suspending the Other Driver Involved in the 119-MPH Rashee Rice Crash — Mustangs CB Theodore “Teddy” Knox
For more sports-related news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans, SMU Mustangs, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Rams, please follow me at @vshjah_Victor.
