Sharon Love, the mother of Yeardley Love, has filed two lawsuits related to her daughter’s 2010 murder. Yeardley Love was a lacrosse player at the University of Virginia when her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely, killed her in May 2010. Huguely was convicted of second-degree murder in February 2012 and awaits sentencing. Sharon Love sued Huguely for wrongful death, and has now filed a separate lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia, the university, and several athletic officials in connection with Yeardley Love’s death.
Yeardley Love was found unresponsive in her Charlottesville, Virginia apartment in the early morning of May 3, 2010. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene and noted that she had signs of physical injury, particularly blunt-force head trauma. Police arrested Huguely, whom Love had briefly dated, the following day and charged him with murder. Huguely reportedly had a history of domestic violence complaints with Love. Huguely waived his Miranda rights and told police his account of what happened that night. He said that he entered her apartment and kicked her locked bedroom door open. He shook Love, causing her head to hit the wall repeatedly. He took her laptop when he left in order to dispose of it.
Prosecutors eventually added charges of felony murder, grand larceny, robbery, burglary, and other charges. A jury convicted Huguely of second-degree murder and grand larceny on February 22, 2012, recommending a total prison sentence of twenty-six years. The murder charge was reduced from first- to second-degree because of a lack of evidence of premeditation by Huguely. His sentencing is scheduled for August 30.
Love’s family, led by her mother Sharon Love, filed a lawsuit in Charlottesville Circuit Court against Huguely for wrongful death in late April. The lawsuit alleges that Hugely “failed to use ordinary care,” causing an accident that resulted in Yeardley Love’s death. It further claims that Huguely knew, or should have known, that his assault left Love with potentially fatal injuries, and that he therefore should be held civilly liable for her death. The suit demands $29,450,000 in compensatory damages plus $1 million in punitive damages, reportedly based on statistics suggesting Yeardley Love would have lived another fifty-nine years but for the assault that ended her life.
One week after filing suit against Huguely, Sharon Love sued the lacrosse team coaches, the University of Virginia athletic director, the university itself, and the commonwealth of Virginia. This lawsuit alleges that the school officials “ignored [Huguely’s] erratic behavior,” which reportedly included intoxication, alcohol-related arrests, and incidents of violence against Love and another UVA female athlete. The coaches and players of both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, the suit claims, knew of Huguely’s “erratic, aggressive behavior,” but no one in a position of authority disciplined him or tried to get him help. This lawsuit also demands $29.45 million in compensatory damages.
The Maryland personal injury lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen are skilled at pursuing justice for people injured due to the negligence or illegal acts of others. Contact us today online or at (800) 654-1949 for a free and confidential consultation.
More Blog Posts:
$21 Million Wrongful Death Suit for Murder of Inmate on Prison Bus Is Going to Trial, Maryland Accident Law Blog, September 29, 2011
$5M Baltimore Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Man Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in 2008 Inner Harbor Drowning, Maryland Accident Law Blog, August 30, 2011
Defendant’s Shoes Included in Anne Arundel County Wrongful Death Settlement Over Deadly 2009 Beating of Crofton Teen, Maryland Accident Law Blog, May 9, 2011