the western weekender
17-year old boy fined $2,500 after recklessly crashing go-cart into neighbors car, 4-year old in backseat, court hears
By Joanne Rawanduzy - May, 2022
Isabelle Chavez and her father Efrain Chaves are suing Tony Briggs alongside his mother Hattee Briggs for $2,500 — $1,214 in car damages and $1,286 for harassment. The Defendant denies the charge.
On April 6, Mrs Briggs, mother of Defendant Tony Briggs, rented three go-karts, presiding as equipment party services for her grand-daughter’s birthday party situated in the province of her California home.
Mr Briggs rode in one of the go-carts later that afternoon, accompanied with 4-year old niece in the backseat. Making their way up and down the street of their home.
Only shortly after, the Chavez family, not far from the Briggs home, claim to have heard a ‘loud boom’, emerging from outside their driveway. The Plaintiff states she then went outside to detect the site where the shrill noise came from.
Mr Briggs is later identified in the front passenger seat of the go-cart, allegedly attempting to reverse in initial T-Bone position, having collided with the Chavez’ family car, witness of aftermath Miss Chavez and Efrain observe.
Miss Briggs, not present at scene of collision, implies Mr Briggs and her granddaughter to have had a harmless ride and testingly argues with the Judge that she does not ‘think’ her son hit the car, nor caused damage to the parked vehicle.
“I am telling you he did” Judge Judith Sheindlin responds.
The Judge further rebukes the Defendants statement with the following addressed to the whole of court,“Unless we start teaching the next generation of people responsibility, taking responsibility for their own actions, stepping up to the plate. This country is going to become a really mediocre place — for if we allow people to stop pointing fingers and making excuses for both their actions and the actions of others, their families and children .. we’re gonna be a second rate society, it starts with him.” The Judge directly gesturing to the defendant beside his Mother.
Miss Chavez reveals documentary evidence presented to the judge, confirming the damages to their Chevrolet Cavalier in repercussion of the collision and further reports that the child was wearing unsuitable headgear and that the helmet “did not fit her properly”, illustrated from Miss Briggs’ facebook images. To which Mr Briggs mutually affirms and goes on to state he had not worn any headgear while driving the vehicle, the jury heard.
The court had recognised the drivers disregardance to the manufacturers instructions and company safety that administers the go-carts. Drawing transparency to noncompliance and carelessness of the driver leading up to the event of the crash.
The Judge reiterates to Miss Briggs that no matter what caused the events, who caused the events, Miss Briggs remains the responsibility to any car damages pertaining to the T-Bone incident, having signed an agreement with the go-kart company making her liable to any casualty caused by the rented vehicles.
The plaintiff then goes on to describe the base of her allegations to harassment.
According to her, the defendant was about to attack her, Plaintiff exhibits video evidence that portrays an non-physical outbreak however, the defendant is seen walking with deliberate provocation towards the Plaintiffs phone and soon steered away from the scene.
The Judge renounced the charge of harassment presented as bad behavior, fining the defendant $1,200 for car damages.
Advocated by police, educators, parents and students of Australia. Australian Road Safety Award winning YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety encourages young people to own up to responsibility and better protect their families, their local communities and themselves from the preventable consequences and anguish of youth road trauma.
Road safety is a state of mind, accident is an absence of mind.
Drive safe.