In the ongoing legal saga following the tragic death of 14-year-old Sean Richards, Fuller's Car Wash in Hinsdale has filed for bankruptcy, WGN reports. The bankruptcy filing comes amidst accusations by the Richards family that the company is attempting to evade courtroom testimony related to the wrongful death lawsuit they filed. On July 17, 2023, Sean was fatally hit by a jeep exiting Fuller's Car Wash and this incident has now led to a complex tussle between the bereaved family and the business.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times article, the Richards family has expressed skepticism over the timing of the bankruptcy claim, suggesting it as a strategy to delay the legal proceedings where company owners and employees were slated to give deposition in the wrongful-death case filed in late of 2023. The family has labeled this move as "using every trick in the book to delay our day in court," WGN reports. The car wash establishment has remained silent with no immediate response to the bankruptcy and lawsuit commentary.
The lawsuit names Fuller's Car Wash, the Douglas Fuller family, and the 16-year-old driver's father as defendants, seeking at least $50,000 in damages and calling for a relocation of the car wash away from downtown Hinsdale, a bustling area where the fatal accident transpired. In the wake of the collision, the teenage driver who was working at Fuller's at the time of the incident received three traffic citations but faced no criminal charges, bringing to the fore the nuances of accountability and legal responsibility.
Reactions over Fuller's Car Wash's bankruptcy declaration have been poignant with the boy's family stating, "We are familiar with the old saying that justice delayed is justice denied," and affirming their resolute patience and determination to obtain justice for Sean as the bankruptcy filing suspiciously appeared on the docket just before key depositions were scheduled according to a statement obtained by WGN. The Fuller family had also previously expressed their heartfelt grief for the Richards family but now face criticism for their recent actions perceived as a shield against near-term legal scrutiny.
