In April 2007, tragedy struck Stephen and Joanne Kenney, the parents of a 14-year-old boy who got killed in a traffic accident. Matthew Kenney was at the time riding his bike on Route 69 in the Waterbury suburb of Prospect, Connecticut.
Matthew died after 48-year-old David Weaving, a repeated drunk driver, struck the young boy while driving his car under the influence, at speeds of 83 mph in a 45-mph zone. Weaving was convicted more than a year later of manslaughter and other crimes and is currently serving a 10-year sentence.
But that's not the end of it. Having more than enough time to reflect on his wrongdoing, Weaving decided to express his regrets by suing the boy's parents, on the grounds that they allowed him to ride his bike in the street without a helmet.
According to AP, Weaving is seeking to receive $15,000 in damages, a sum which would pretty much end the "great mental and emotional pain and suffering" he had to endure since the incident. He also says the money should be enough to compensate for his “wrongful conviction and imprisonment.”
Weaving claims that at the time of the incident he was driving the speed limit and that pretty much he has done nothing wrong. The parents of the boy however still can't believe what is happening.
"I just think it's crazy that they have the ability to do this behind bars," Joanne Kenney said according to the source. "I think inmates have too many rights. They're the ones who committed the crimes, not us. And we're the ones who suffer more.”
"Blaming the victim is just offensive," added State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz. "It takes obviously a very unique individual to go after the family of a deceased child. I would say it's an unsound lawsuit."
Matthew died after 48-year-old David Weaving, a repeated drunk driver, struck the young boy while driving his car under the influence, at speeds of 83 mph in a 45-mph zone. Weaving was convicted more than a year later of manslaughter and other crimes and is currently serving a 10-year sentence.
But that's not the end of it. Having more than enough time to reflect on his wrongdoing, Weaving decided to express his regrets by suing the boy's parents, on the grounds that they allowed him to ride his bike in the street without a helmet.
According to AP, Weaving is seeking to receive $15,000 in damages, a sum which would pretty much end the "great mental and emotional pain and suffering" he had to endure since the incident. He also says the money should be enough to compensate for his “wrongful conviction and imprisonment.”
Weaving claims that at the time of the incident he was driving the speed limit and that pretty much he has done nothing wrong. The parents of the boy however still can't believe what is happening.
"I just think it's crazy that they have the ability to do this behind bars," Joanne Kenney said according to the source. "I think inmates have too many rights. They're the ones who committed the crimes, not us. And we're the ones who suffer more.”
"Blaming the victim is just offensive," added State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz. "It takes obviously a very unique individual to go after the family of a deceased child. I would say it's an unsound lawsuit."