California Injury Blog
Singer and actress, Brandy Norwood, has been slapped with a third wrongful-death lawsuit stemming from a Dec. 30 freeway crash on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles that resulted in the death of 38-year-old wife and mother and caused major injuries to several other motorists, according to a news report on E Online.
Awatef Aboudihaj died after the actress rear-ended the woman onto oncoming traffic. Two lawsuits have been filed against Brandy so far – the first one by the victim’s parents and the second, by the victim’s parents on behalf of her two children who were also present in the vehicle during the accident. According to court documents, the children have suffered “permanent damage” as a result of the crash.
Now, Aboudihaj’s husband is getting in on the legal action, filing suit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court against the actress and other motorists involved in the accident.
The lawsuit specifically names the entertainer and Mallory Ham, the 50-year-old who broadsided Aboudihaj’s car while attempting to dodge another vehicle that had careened into her lane. The plaintiff, Maroune Hdidou, says up to 25 unidentified other drivers may have been involved, according to the E Online report.
The widower claims that the drivers were “traveling too fast for conditions” at the time and were also “following too closely,” which resulted in the fatal injuries to his late wife. The wrongful death and vehicle negligence complaint seeks unspecified damages including medical and funeral expenses, legal fees and a slew of punitive damages. Hdidou describes Aboudihaj as a faithful and dutiful wife in the lawsuit, requesting additional damages for loss of consortium – the deprivation of “support, maintenance, solace, moral support, companionship and comfort” that she provided him.
On Feb. 8, a separate wrongful-death lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed on behalf of Aboudihaj’s children, ages 14 and 10. On Jan. 30, the victim’s Morocco-based parents filed a lawsuit seeking $50 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Meanwhile CHP officials have recommended to prosecutors that Brandy be charged with misdemeanor manslaughter for causing the accident. No charges have been filed. The count carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The family definitely deserves to be compensated for the loss of their most valuable family member, who according to news reports, worked three jobs to support her parents, husband and children. Any loss is hard to take, but this one especially seemed to have involved a family member who was apparently a pillar of support. It will be interesting to see which of the cases the courts consider and which ones they will toss out.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or loss in an auto accident, call Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation at 800-259-6373.