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Fathers of two of the three young people killed in a June 12 traffic accident at Ind. 25 and Winona Avenue have filed lawsuits seeking monetary compensation for their losses.
Donald Hatfield filed a case June 10 in Kosciusko Circuit Court against Brandon J. Robinson and YoLanda LaVon Kuda for the loss of his son, Aaron Hatfield.
Monte L. Florey's case against Robinson and Pamela A. Hiers was filed Tuesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court. He is the father of Heather A. Florey.
Aaron Hatfield, 17, and Heather Florey, 16, both of Claypool, were killed June 12 when the pickup the 18-year-old Robinson was driving struck the car Aaron Hatfield was driving. Also killed in the accident was 12-year-old Tyler Bartley of Claypool.
Two other passengers Hatfield's car - Tiffany Bartley, 13, Claypool, and 6-month-old Monica Hatfield (Hatfield and Florey's daughter) suffered serious injuries.
Criminal charges are pending against Robinson, of Warsaw. He is accused of three counts each of driving while intoxicated causing death and reckless homicide, and two counts of driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.
In the civil lawsuits, both Donald Hatfield and Monte L. Florey are seeking unspecified amounts in both compensatory and punitive damages for the wrongful deaths of their children.
Kuda is Aaron Hatfield's mother and Hiers is Heather Florey's mother. They are named in the lawsuits to answer any interest they might have in any settlement reached by the court.
Both cases state that the deaths of Aaron Hatfield and Heather Florey were a result of Robinson's failure to stop at the stop sign for traffic at Ind. 25 (Zimmer Road) and Winona Avenue (Crystal Lake Road) and that he was "operating his vehicle while intoxicated, and was operating his vehicle in a negligent and reckless manner).
The men have incurred medical, funeral and burial expenses and have suffered loss of love, care, affection and support of the couple's daughter. Aaron Hatfield also had another daughter, Hope Hatfield.
The punitive damages are being sought to "punish (Robinson) for his willful and wanton misconduct and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct."
A jury trial is sought in the Hatfield case.
The attorney for Hatfield is Bruce A. MacTavish of the firm of Pardieck, Gill, Vargo & MacTavish, Seymour. Florey's attorney is Millard P. Plumlee III of Lemon, Armey, Hearn & Leininger, Warsaw.
Estates have also been filed, with the fathers of Aaron Hatfield and Heather Florey named as personal representatives in the respective cases.
