Brandy Faces Second Wrongful Death Suit
The two sons of a woman killed in a freeway crash involving Brandy have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the actress-singer.
It is the second lawsuit filed against Brandy Norwood following the Dec. 30 crash on the San Diego Freeway that killed Awatef Aboudihaj, a 38-year-old Los Angeles waitress.
On Jan. 30, Aboudihaj's parents, Aboudihaj Mohamed and Labridi Zohra, who reside in Morocco, filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the R&B singer in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The latest Superior Court suit was filed Feb. 8 on behalf of Mrwan Mohamed, 14, and Kareem Mohamed, 10, who were both injured in the crash that killed their mother. The suit alleged that Brandy was recklessly driving a Land Rover when it struck the Honda driven by Aboudihaj.
After the crash, Aboudihaj's car hit another vehicle, slid sideways into the center divider and was then hit by another car, the police report said. Aboudihaj, who was born in Morocco and became a U.S. citizen, died at a hospital from blunt-force injuries, according to the coroner's office.
The suit filed by attorney Paul N. Philips said unspecified injuries to the children will likely cause some permanent disability. Damages will be determined at trial, the suit said.
"The accident was a terrible tragedy, and Brandy's heart goes out to Awatef Aboudihaj's family. But for legal reasons we cannot comment on this lawsuit," the singer's spokesman Allan Mayer said in a statement earlier.
The city attorney's office is still deciding whether to charge the singer with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, which was recommended by California Highway Patrol investigators, spokesman Jonathan Diamond said Wednesday.
If charged and convicted, Brandy, 28, faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Brandy, who earned a Grammy in 1999, has made five albums. She began her recording career at 14 and acted in film and television, starring on the TV comedy "Moesha" from 1996-2001 and most recently as a judge for NBC's "America's Got Talent."