Beleaguered Brandy Suits Herself
As remorseful as she might be, Brandy apparently doesn't think much of the lawsuits leveled against her. Not that that's stopping her from filing one of her own.
While three wrongful-death suits filed against her this year accuse her of causing a fatal four-car collision in December, the 28-year-old singer took matters into her own hands Wednesday and sued one of the other drivers involved in the accident for negligence, alleging that 50-year-old Mallory Ham of Simi Valley caused the crash. (View the documents here.)
Similarly, in court documents filed May 23, Brandy, whose full name is Brandy Norwood, "specifically [denied] each and every allegation" in the wrongful death complaints brought against her by relatives of the woman who died of injuries suffered in the Dec. 30 collision.
The accident occurred on Los Angeles' 405 freeway when Brandy's 2007 Range Rover rear-ended a Toyota Corolla being driven by 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, who in turn hit 82-year-old Donald Lit's Toyota Tercel. That caused Aboudihaj's car to bounce into a different lane, where she was broadsided by Ham's vehicle. Aboudihaj died of her injuries at a nearby hospital the following evening.
The California Highway Patrol, which determined that Brandy was traveling at 65 miles per hour and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol or on her cell phone at the time of the crash, has recommended that the Los Angeles city attorney charge the Moesha star with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Prosecutors are still determining whether to press charges or not.
However, that hasn't stopped the legal floodgates from opening. Three wrongful-death suits have been filed, one by Aboudihaj's parents, one representing the deceased's two children, and, earlier this month, one by Aboudihaj's husband, Maroune Hdidou, for the loss of "support, maintenance, solace, moral support, companionship and comfort" that his "faithful and dutiful" spouse provided him.
"This answering defendant specifically denies each and every allegation in the complaint and further denies that plaintiffs have been damaged in any sum or sums whatsoever," read court papers obtained by E! Online. (View the documents here.)
In the filing, Brandy asserts her Fifth Amendment privilege to not incriminate herself and requests a jury trial.
Ham is also named as a defendant in Hdidou's suit, but playing on the same side of the field as Brandy apparently hasn't given the man any overriding sense of solidarity.
According to documents obtained by E! Online, Ham is also suing the former America's Got Talent judge for negligence and motor vehicle damage, claiming that Brandy "carelessly and negligently owned, operated, entrusted, leased, repaired, modified, maintained and/or controlled a 2007 Land Rover Range Rover so as to cause a multi-vehicle accident that severely injured plaintiff Mallory Ham and killed another person."
The defendant was aware of the "probable harmful consequences of speeding…following other vehicles too closely…and tailgating other vehicles," the complaint states.
Ham is seeking unspecified general, special and punitive damages for medical expenses, loss of earnings and other costs, as well as "past, present and future pain and suffering."
Brandy has since followed suit, so to speak.
"She's just responding to pieces of litigation as they come in and doesn't want to comment at this time," Brandy's attorney, Edwin McPherson, said Tuesday.
The Big Picture
Frankly, Scarlett... You look damn amazing. Ryan Reynolds' other half gives good face at a Mango clothing party in Madrid
More PhotosMost Commented
- Would Kristen Work With Rob Outside of Twilight? (863)
- Rob and Kristen Stroll Arm in Arm! (859)
- "Exhausted" Rob and Kristen (Kinda) Get Personal (764)
- Robsten Begin Publicity Tour Together—Kinda (607)
- Rob Pregnant! Taylor Never Stripping Again! And Other Twilight Tall Tales (524)
- Inside Rob and Kristen's Stunning Euro Slobberfest! (444)
- Jensen's Engaged! So Is Jackles in Trouble? (437)
- Fall TV SOS: Save One Endangered New Show (403)
- Overworked Rob Needs a Break! (366)
- Rob and Kristen Keep the Mystery Going (314)
Top 10 Stories
- Taylor Swift Topples Carrie and Kenny for Best in Show at CMA Awards
- Paparazzo Plays Mike Tyson's Punch-Out
- Ron Livingston Happily Married, We Presume
- Adam Lambert: Dating? No. Clubbing? Yes!
- Victim of Horrifying Chimp Attack Shows Face for the First Time on Oprah
- Would You Like to Be a Porn Star Now, Carrie Prejean?
- Rihanna and Chris Brown Still in Sync, Prepare to Face Off Once More
- Does Up Have the Right Stuff? See Which Toons Are Oscar Eligible
- What's Black and White and Weird All Over? Nicolas Cage's Mime Stalker
- Kris Allen: Adam Lambert Doin' Just Fine Post-Breakup
Fashion Police
Back in BusinessNicole's rocking fabulous, bold colors again—on her bod and her head—hallelujah!
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
60 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 60 comments
Now loading...