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