Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Teen, Now Facing Five Lawsuits

Ethan Couch, the ‘Affluenza’ teen, may have thought his legal troubles were over after a judge sentenced him to 10 years probation after causing a fatal accident that left four people dead, but that is not the case. Couch is now facing five lawsuits brought by the families of the crash victims.

The Huffington Post reported that Couch isn’t the only one facing these lawsuits. The suits also target Cough’s father, Fred Couch, as well as Fred’s company, Cleburne Metal Works, which owned the pickup Couch was driving during the accident. According to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, these suits were all filed between September and November of 2013, prior to Couch’s sentencing.

Many were outraged by the decision to give Couch probation given that he was not only speeding but also drinking and driving while underage, which resulted in the death of four people. As The Inquisitr reported earlier, even though Couch was charged as a juvenile, he was facing 20 years in prison.

Thanks to Couch’s attorney, who argued that the teen was a victim of “affluenza,” he was given only 10 years of probation. What is “affluenza”? According to the Huffington Post, it means that “on the night of the crash he did not understand the consequences of his actions because of his privileged upbringing.”

Many, including the families of the dead and injured, believe that Couch got off way too easily. “At some point there should be some level of accountability for their actions,” Eric Boyles told ABC News. “I’m not sure how our justice system has gotten to this.” What seems to be bothering families the most is that Couch never addressed the victims families.

“Nowhere in this process did Ethan ever say to the families, to the court, ‘I’m so sorry for what happened,'” said Boyles. “Nowhere did Ethan express any remorse or anything.”

Reports state that Marla Mitchell and Shaunna Jennings, are suing for unspecified damages. Eric and Marguerite Boyles are both suing on behalf of deceased family members, and even parents of two injured individuals are suing Couch and his family.

[Image via Shutterstock/bikeriderlondon]