One day after she told Bill Simmons that the paparazzi nearly drove her to suicide, Caitlyn Jenner has filed a lawsuit against another set of tabloid photographers.
The former Olympian is accusing the photographers — collectively referred to as “the Stalker Defendants” — of “harassing [her] throughout the day up through the time of the accident” in February 2015, resulting in the death of another driver, People.com reported Thursday.
Jenner claims that the paparazzi drove too close to her while attempting to take photos during her transition, which resulted in dangerous — and ultimately fatal — tailgating violations.
“As a direct consequence and result of this stalking, harassing and distracting conduct, [Jenner] was visually distracted, and the negligence and reckless conduct of the Stalker Defendants did contribute to the cause of an accident where seconds and split seconds mattered,” the filing states.
The transgender reality star is asking that the accused parties be held at least partially responsible for any liability that she might incur and that they bear the financial responsibility of any damages and legal proceedings that occurred as a result of the accident.
Jenner had previously been hit with a wrongful-death suit by Dana Redmond and William Howe, the adult stepchildren of Kimberly Howe, who perished in the multi-car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. They contended that her vehicle hit Kimberly Howe’s car, pushing it into oncoming traffic. According to the suit, her death “caused plaintiffs to suffer enormous damages and losses.”
The “I Am Cait” star settled that civil case in January, however she faces another suit from a family that was driving in a Hummer involved in the accident. That suit accuses Jenner of being “inattentive and traveling at unsafe speed for traffic conditions,” causing a “high-force collision.”
Jenner is not facing criminal charges as a result of the accident. In December, she settled another lawsuit filed by Jessica Steindorff, the driver of a Prius who was also involved in the accident.
Steindorff is mentioned in the current complaint, where Jenner says the woman sat “stopped in the middle of Pacific Coast Highway looking at her cellphone,” drove “at a speed (zero) unreasonable for the conditions” and drove “with a suspended license,” People reported.