UK Edition
Venus Williams fights back in law suit over fatal car crash, claiming victim was not wearing seat belt
Venus Williams is fighting back against a wrongful death lawsuit, after a car crash in Florida which killed a 78-year-old man.
Jerome Barson died after his car hit Williams’ vehicle in Palm Beach Gardens on June 9.
Barson’s wife Linda, who was driving the car, suffered broken bones. He was taken to the hospital with internal bleeding and organ damage, but died two weeks later - on his wife's 68th birthday.
A police report said Williams was to blame for the crash because she turned left into Mrs Barson's path, and they had the legal right of way when they slammed into her.
Williams insists the traffic light was green when she turned, and that she was in the road because of traffic.
On June 30 Mrs Barson filed the law suit, which does not specify the damages they are seeking, but demands recompense for loss of companionship, loss of earnings, pain and suffering and medical and funeral expenses.
On Tuesday documents obtained by MailOnline.com showed that Williams, who made it to the Wimbledon final on July 15, losing to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, was contesting the case.
She denies causing the crash, and instead blames the passengers' injuries on their own negligence for not wearing their seat belts.
The 37 year-old accused the Barsons of failing to adequately maintain and repair their vehicle.
She also said that Mrs Barson’s injuries were “immaterial” to the case, and demanded that the estate hand over all autopsy reports, the death certificate, copies of marriage certificates, tax returns for past five years, life insurance policies, health insurance policies.
She is also seeking they provide all copies of photos taken pertaining to the crash, Mr Barson's medical records for the past five years, all degrees and diplomas, and a list of available tissue, blood or fluid samples from the autopsy.
Williams also requests a list of all the doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists seen by the victim in the past 10 years, information on any hospital or institution treatment, and for records pertaining to all illnesses or disorders he had prior to the crash.
Mrs Barson had previously asked Williams for similarly extensive records – including security camera footage of the crash, her phone records, and her driving record for the past seven years, including all traffic and crash reports.
“If Venus isn't guilty and she was driving with all due care and attention then why wouldn't she hand over those records?” a source told the website. “If she was distracted by her phone at the time of the accident then negligence becomes an issue - and suddenly things could get a whole lot worse for her.”
Police have said they do not believe she was on the phone, nor that she was distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The authorities are still investigating, and she has not been charged with any crime.
Williams’ lawyers and Mrs Barson’s legal team did not respond to The Telegraph’s requests for comment.