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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1989)
Page 14 The Battalion Monday, November 13, Luella fights on Elderly woman faces bankruptcy in court BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Luella Wil son’s tiny frame and stooped walk are mis leading. This 91-year-old woman, who stands to lose her home and life savings because of an unusual court case, is tough. In her younger years, Wilson stood her ground on hunting expeditions for coyotes and moose; trophies hang in her home to prove her success. She also ran her family’s dude ranch for years, caring for up to 52 horses until last year. Shuffling around her cluttered home and pointing out prized possessions, Wilson boasts that she once owned a nightclub and “han dled” eight bartenders — not to mention rowdy patrons. But Wilson fears she’s finally met her match in the legal system. She’s uncharacteristically confused, tangled in a legal nightmare she says is not of her own making, but which threatens to cost her every thing she has collected over her nine decades. Wilson’s troubles began in 1984 when she gave her great-nephew, Willard Stuart, $6,300 for his 18th birthday to buy a car. Stuart did not have a driver’s license; Wilson knew that when she gave him the money. Three weeks later, after a night of heavy drinking and smoking marijuana, Stuart drove the car off a bridge. A backseat passen ger, Mark Vince, was paralyzed and later had a leg amputated. The passenger sued Wilson, saying she knew that Stuart did not have a license and that he used drugs, and therefore was neg ligent in giving him money to buy a car. A Superior Court jury agreed, ordering Wilson to pay the passenger $950,000 in dam ages. Her home has been inventoried for sale and her savings locked up hy the courts. The Vermont Supreme Court, however, says others may share the blame with Wilson, including the dealership that sold Stuart the vehicle. A Superior Court jury will decide that question in December. “He used to be my favorite nephew,” Wil son said last week. “His mother used to get him up in the morning, dress him, and he would come running through my mead, and stay here with me all day.” Although he still lives nearby, Wilson has; talked to Stuart since the verdict and hasstf- him only in passing as he drives by her home “1 don’t know if he feels so bad about in® he doesn’t want to talk to me,” she said. Publicity over Wilson’s plight has sparta wave of support, and her kitchen table ism. tered with about 50 letters Itoin peopleof'rflf ing money or assistance. Others around the nation are watchingll® case because of its precedent-settingpotentiiHi They say there would be enormous cations if the court finds eit her the dealerdJM or salesman negligent for selling the car||® someone who did not have a license and <1; later in an accident. Such a ruling could affect banks, other dealerships, or anyone who lends or giifl| money to another individual. H Wilson says the law is wrong, that thertB no one to blame but those directly involvedB the accident. ^dei dei m j| McDon^cf's INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS sponsored by McDonald’s Post Oak Mall • Hwy 21 Manor East Mall • University Dr. Texas Ave. at S.W. Parkway Breakfast Every Morning • 5 locations • Drive Thru "W; H< pr< am ■ imi fait its< nat 19f th< vie yea his ota tvie- id-srr, ^ovj't ooowrr t/s ocrri rouP X'OU -SO. I TOL-D^b 0 so ■ ' OH hb.kWAT r-r£ t' mHAMPlCmsy J ! Congratulations to the winners of the following intramural sports!| Soccer Entries Open: Nov. 6 Entries Close: Nov. 14 Sport Trivia Bowl No Entry Fee! Play Begins: Wednesday, Nov. 15 Men’s A Blankstare Men’s B The Nads Men’s C Foxes CoRec A CL105's CoRec B Toejam CoRec C Katy's Heroes Women's Dominoes Frisbee Golf Men's John Chapman Women's Kelli McQuerns Men's Doubles James Molinelli John Chapman Women's Doubles Yi-Te Chu Li Lian Tan CoRec Chong Liu Li Lian Tan Weightlifting Entries Open: Nov. 13 Entries Close: Nov. 21 Archery Singles No Entry Fee! Contest Date: Tuesday, Nov. 28 EEL :• v Back Country Skiing January 6-13 Ski St. Paul’s superb powder, in the San Juan Mountains between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado! The St. Paul is a comfortable inn, complete with kerosene lamps, wood- burning stove, and a sauna. Fee: $399 ($420 non-A&M) covers transportation, lodging, food, equipment, instruction and guides. Registration: Oct. 9 - Nov. 30. Limited to 13. All registration lor TAMU Outdoors is taken in159 Read. For more Information, call Patsy Greiner at 845-7826. Men's 150 lb John Williams Men’s 175 lb Jose Marin Men's 200 lb Todd Butcher Men's 200 lb + Monroe Parcus Women's 125 lb Yi-Te Chu Women’s 150 lb Kristie Buehman Photo by MarkF:i stn Catch Flag Football All-University action, Sunday, November 12 sc € E3 EEL The TAMU Polo Team fared well in recent S' competition. Competing for the Men’s Team were «< Wesley Sinor, Vicente Borrero, Roberto Salazar, Todcl ht ': Perry and Adrian Clachar. Both Texas Tech and lr Oklahoma University went down in defeat, 12-7 and2m 1 ' Irrespectively. K: The Women’s Team, composed of Kristin Matlacf^ Portia Branson-Swales, Rene Seweil and Rachel Lar[|e also did well against Texas Tech defeating them 12|f d SMU also suffered at the hands of the Women's Pclfc Team, losing 8-2. se;i Acknowledgements; McDonald’s Intramural Highlights is sp sored in by your local McDonald's Restaurant at University Dr ] Manor East Mall, Hwy 21, Texas Ave. at SW Parkway and Post( Mall. Stories are by Mark Figart, graphics are by Paul Irwin and pi tographs are by Rec Sports photographers. . mot Texas A&M Head Football Coach R,C| Slocum reads off the names of theG 1 ^ if'- A GMAC scholarship winners Wednesdiue afternoon at Rudder Fountain. Recrei luti, fort tional Sports congratulates this year's avoi recipients, Kevin Martinez, Nathan Zanek, and alternate Kristin Bennet. Photo by Huy Nguyen MONDAY November 13 TUESDAY November 14 WEDNESDAY November 15 THURSDAY November 16 FRIDAY November 17 SATURDAY November 18 SUNDAY io t , November 18 ^ 1 land Entries Open: Archery Singles Entries Close: Sports Trivia Bowl 8-Ball Singles All-University Finals Flag Football p Us and ted. Innertube Waters All-University Finals r D the ] tee a