The continuing downward spiral of Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch now has serious legal ramifications, as theWWEHall of Famer and her partner James Pente are facing a civil lawsuit following Sytch’s involvement in a tragic three-car accident in Volusia County, Florida that took the life of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter.
The Lasseter family, particularly Julian’s adult daughter Whitney,recently filed a lawsuitagainst Sytch alleging severe negligence on theWWEHall of Famer’s part for her involvement in the accident. The family is also holding Pente “vicariously liable” for his partner’s actions since it was his vehicle that Sytch was behind the wheel of when the incident occurred.
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The accident took place on March 25 along U.S. Highway 1, when Sytch, according to various witnesses, was driving Pente’s 2012 Mercedes-Benz at a “high rate of speed” before bypassing a red light at an intersection and colliding with Lasseter’s car, a 2013 Kia Sorrento, causing it to ram into a third driver’s vehicle, a 2011 GMC Yukon. While Sytch and the third driver were taken to the nearby Halifax medical facility, stabilized and treated for non-threatening injuries, Lasseter’sinjuries were more severe and incapacitating, sadly leading to the pronouncement of his death shortly after being brought to the facility that same evening. Due to the tragic incident, PWInsider reports that the Lasseter estate has incurred a great deal of medical and funeral expenses, as well as severe “emotional and mental pain” suffered by Lasseter’s daughter Whitney, and is seeking “in excess of $30,000” from Sytch and Pente.
As of this writing, neither Sytch nor Pente have officially responded to the lawsuit. In fact, at this time, court records do not reflect that they have been officially served. The toxicology report being done to verify that Sytch was in fact intoxicated at the time of the incident has yet to be disclosed to the public, and she has not been arrested as of yet, as authorities are awaiting the results.
It’s always a difficult balancing act to remain objective in frustratingly tough and tragic situations such as these. $30,000 seems like less-than-fair compensation for a loved one’s untimely demise, but it’s likely that the financial aspect of the lawsuit is directed more at Pente, given that he should’ve been quite aware of his partner’s far-less-than-reputable history of drinking and driving, and that Sytch’s “celebrity” value is little more than a tattered mess at this point.
Sytch has yet to show any remorse for her actions here or of those in the past and, regardless of the toxicology results, quite frankly needs to be put away for the sake of everyone, not just hers, before her downward spiral consumes others in its wake as it did to the Lasseter family.
