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Estate Of Jackass Star Ryan Dunn Sued In Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In June of last year, we wrote about the fatal car accident involving TV star and Pennsylvania native Ryan Dunn. Dunn and a passenger in his vehicle were killed in a fiery one-vehicle accident that occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. on June 20, 2011.

According to reports, Dunn was driving his sports car westbound on Route 322 close to the Pottstown exit in Chester County, Pennsylvania, when he apparently lost control of the vehicle, which flipped over the guardrail and smashed into a wooded area.

Following the accident, it was determined that speed and alcohol were both likely contributors. Officials estimated that Dunn was driving close to 130 mph and a toxicology report revealed that Dunn’s blood-alcohol content was 0.198, more than twice the legal limit to drive in Pennsylvania.

Last week, it was reported that the family of the passenger in the vehicle, who also died in the crash, has sued Dunn’s estate in a wrongful death lawsuit. Reportedly, the Chester bar where Dunn allegedly became intoxicated before driving was also named in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that Dunn was negligent and reckless by driving drunk and driving at an excessive speed. The lawsuit states that the bar, Barnaby’s of America, was also negligent by serving Dunn when it should have been obvious that he was already drunk. The amount of damages the family seeks has not been disclosed.

As this lawsuit demonstrates, it is possible for the estate of a deceased person to be sued in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. However, there are usually complicated state probate laws that handle these matters, which can impose time limits on when an estate can be sued.

Ryan Dunn was made famous for performing daredevil stunts in the MTV television series “Jackass.” He was 34-years-old when he died.

Source: Reuters, “‘Jackass’ Star Ryan Dunn’s Estate Sued Over Fatal Crash,” Andrew Lu, Aug. 9, 2010