ATHENS, Ga. — Lawyers representing the father of Georgia player Devin Willock, who died in a car crash on Jan. 15, have notified UGA that they plan to sue the school for at least $2 million.
Here’s what you need to know:
- In a notice to the school filed on April 11, the lawyers claim that team staffer Chandler LeCroy, who also died in the crash, was served alcohol at a team function on the night of the crash and was told she was on the clock that night. That’s contrary to previous public statements by UGA that LeCroy, who was driving a car rented by UGA, was not working in an official capacity and was not authorized to be driving the rental car that night.
- LeCroy was the driver in the car, and Willock was riding in the back seat. An investigation by Athens-Clarke County police found that LeCroy had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit and that she was street racing with Jalen Carter, a now-former Georgia football player. Carter was charged with two misdemeanors on March 1 and later entered a plea bargain, not receiving jail time. Carter is expected to be a high first-round pick in Thursday’s NFL draft.
What was Georgia’s response?
UGA is denying the claims by Dave Willock’s lawyers.
“While we continue to grieve for the Willock family, the demand letter from an attorney for Devin’s father is full of inaccuracies,” UGA spokesman Greg Trevor said in a statement. “The claims you have identified from the letter are false, and the university disputes them in the strongest terms. (Terry) Jackson has not provided the university with any sources or evidentiary bases to support these reckless claims. As we have made clear, personal use of vehicles rented for recruiting activities was strictly prohibited. Ms. LeCroy was not engaged in athletic department duties around the time of the accident, and her personal use of the car after her recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was therefore unauthorized.”
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Why is the lawsuit for $2 million?
The lawsuit requesting $2 million is for the amount allowed by the Georgia Tort Claims Act. Willock’s father is reserving the right to sue LeCroy’s estate and the Georgia athletic department for a greater amount. The letter to UGA cited the state having $30 million in coverage for “vehicles hired, etc. by it for use by it or its agents and employees,” as well as $3 million for a self-retention tort refund.
Willock’s father and mother are sole heirs of their son’s estate, the letter said. Willock’s mother is not included in the lawsuit.
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(Photo: Paul Abell / Getty Images)
