A local business that was sued recently for alleged negligence involving a crash that killed a basketball coach and his daughter denies any negligence in the accident.
Durant Lady Lions basketball coach Will Robinson and his daughter Clara died on Christmas Eve 2024 when the family car hydroplaned in Sherman, Texas, and slid into a drainage ditch. Will died trying to save his daughter Clara, who was a student at George Washington Elementary School. Her body was never recovered.
The petition was filed by Ammons Law Firm and Branum Law Firm, attorneys for Kristen Robinson, who is Will’s widow and mother to Clara. Mrs. Robinson is representing the estates of Will and Clara, and their daughter Elizabeth Robinson, who was injured during the crash.
The petition states that Stuteville Chevrolet of Durant was negligent when rotating the tires on the family’s Chevrolet Traverse, and last month, J. Christopher Dunlevy of Crowe Dunlevy PC in Tulsa filed papers disputing the negligence claim.
Stuteville Chevrolet denies that employees violated industry standards when rotating the tires and that any shop policy was contrary to the prevailing safety standard, according to court papers.
“Defendant further denies that any act or omission by Stuteville Chevrolet caused or contributed to any loss of control of the vehicle at issue,” court papers state.
Stuteville Chevrolet also denies that the tires were unsafe at the time of service and that the business failed to meet any applicable standard of care. The business also denies the characterization of any statements attributed to the service manager.
“Defendant denies the allegations … in- cluding the assertion that the tire configuration following the rotation was dangerous or that Stuteville Chevrolet caused or contributed to the subject incident,” the document states.
Stuteville Chevrolet is asking the court to deny plaintiffs all relief requested, a judgment in favor of Stuteville Chevrolet and to award court costs.
Brakes Plus, that is not located in Durant, also was named in the lawsuit.