Do we know call cajuncow on the carpet for posting a news item from CNN?
How's this, from FOX-7 in Austin.
The widow of IRS worker Vernon Hunter has sued Sheryl Mann Stack, the widow of Joe Stack. Authorities say Stack killed Hunter last Thursday when he flew his single engine plane into Hunters office building on HWY 183.
Sheryl lived with her husband and 12-year-old daughter in a home in northwest Austin. She and her daughter had spent the night at a hotel the night before the attack. Investigators say that Joe Stack burned the home down while they were away before he launched his plane attack. According to the lawsuit, Valerie Hunter claims that Sheryl Stack felt threatened enough by Joe Stack that she took her daughter and stayed at a hotel the night before the plane crash. 'She owed a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid a foreseeable rush of injury to others including Vernon Hunter.' Sheryl Stack breached her duty to inform others which resulted in the death of Vernon Hunter. Valerie Hunter is asking for actual damages, exemplary damages, interest and court costs.
An attorney for Hunter told FOX 7 that the lawsuit will also seek to block the public release of Vernon Hunter's autopsy records.
Last week Sheryl Stack released a brief statement through a spokesperson. In the statement, Sheryl Stack thanked her friends and family and offers her "sincerest sympathy" for the victims and their families. She also said she will not comment further.
So, the wrongful death suit is in addition to the suit to prevent release of the autopsy details. Details, I might add, that are part of the public record.
It seems very clear that the widow Hunter holds the widow Stack responsible for her dead husband's actions. As stated in the FOX-7 story:
According to the lawsuit, Valerie Hunter claims that Sheryl Stack felt threatened enough by Joe Stack that she took her daughter and stayed at a hotel the night before the plane crash. 'She owed a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid a foreseeable rush of injury to others including Vernon Hunter.' Sheryl Stack breached her duty to inform others which resulted in the death of Vernon Hunter. Valerie Hunter is asking for actual damages, exemplary damages, interest and court costs.
As clearly stated in the wrongful death suit and according to the Hunter lawyer.
As for the autopsy results, I'm not a TX attorney, but I assume that TX, like the other states in which I'm familiar, makes autopsy results public records. This is especially true when those results are for the victims of criminal acts - most state Supreme Courts have held that the public has a more than prurient interest in the facts surrounding criminal acts involving death. The photos may, or may not, be withheld, but the coroner's report, to include the autopsy report will surely be made public.
Just because the woman was afraid of her husband doesn’t at imply that she might see him as a threat to others.
Besides, we know how it works, unless he made an explicit threat calling the cops a saying “my husband’s nuts, I think he might do something bad” would not have resulted in any police action.
I also don’t see how seeking damages from the killer’s widow and prevent the autopsy being released can be put in the same action. But I suppose that is just more shoddy work from the MSM.
Oh my. Now my head is spinning.
Nonsense. I for one fail to see how Mrs. Stack had any "duty" other than to protect herself and her daughter from Mr. Stack, who was at that point in time, a violent husband. She had no reason to believe that violence would extend elsewhere.
This lawsuit is in essence, claiming she should have likewise been able to predict the future and specifically, the death of Mr. Hunter, someone she did not know. This lawsuit is implying that she knew the crazy loon's plans without any proof whatsoever.
None of us knows if something bad is going to happen tomorrow. Should we be held liable for our lack of knowledge and inability to predict the future? Guess so.
Hey battered women of America, listen up. If you don't report your husband to the cops, you will get sued for whoever he attacks next!