Family files suit in Nick Bollea crash

CLEARWATER -- Attorneys for John Graziano, the passenger who was critically injured during Nick Bollea's car crash, filed suit today against three members of the Bollea family and one friend.

The suit, filed in Pinellas County Circuit Court, alleges that each of the defendants -- Terry Bollea, a.k.a. Hulk Hogan, Linda Bollea, Nick Bollea and Daniel Jacobs -- were negligent in the acts leading up to Graziano's injury last summer.

The suit will seek damages in the millions, said attorney George Tragos, but the exact amount is not known because it remains unclear how expensive Graziano's care will be. Tragos said the former Marine's medical bills already exceed $1 million.

Lawyers today said that a portion of Graziano's frontal lobe had to be removed because of the crash. He is in a "semi-conscious" state and responds to certain stimuli like heat and touch, lawyers said.

The crash occurred Aug. 26 when Bollea lost control of his yellow Toyota Supra and slammed into a tree on Court Street in Clearwater. Clearwater police determined Bollea was racing with a silver Dodge Viper driven by Daniel Jacobs.

Both the Supra and the Viper were owned by Terry Bollea and the first three counts of the suit are directed at him, claiming he is liable as the owner of the two car, as a parent who signed a driver's license application for a minor child, who legally assumed responsibility for the minor's driving, as someone who knew the propensity of his son and Daniel Jacobs to race and drive recklessly.

The suit goes on to say that Linda Bollea knew of her son's reckless driving and even encouraged his dangerous behavior.

Nick Bollea is liable, the suit says, for speeding, racing and consuming alcohol as an underage minor.

Daniel Jacobs, a friend of Nick's, is named in the suit as being liable for light-to-light racing. It was unclear what assets Jacobs had, but the Bollea fortune is thought to be in the millions.

Kimberly Kohn, the other attorney representing Graziano, said the suit would help to determine the amount of the Bollea assets.

Terry and Linda Bollea have initiated a divorce and Kohn was concerned that it might be a way to draw diminish the assets that could be recovered from a suit.

The lawsuit will allow them to get the records faster and nail down exactly how much the Bollea family has, she said.

Comments on this article

by Alex	Mar 25, 2008 4:02 PM
Are we not responsible for our driving, and anyone in our cars? Rather John got in the car isn't the issue here. Nick 17 drinking, racing and accident that could of took John life and someone else life if he hit their car. NOT JOHN>

by Judy	Mar 25, 2008 4:01 PM
Aren't we all responsible for who is in our cars? I know I make sure my passagers wear seatbelts or not ride with me. If he had hit a car and kill some one it would of not been John sue, but Hogan family. Why do everyone blame John then?

by Karen	Mar 25, 2008 3:36 PM
John can not talk,walk or anything now. But Nick can. He still continue to race, probably drink still. Parents should of taken car away when he had all the tickets for speeding. Issue is Nick was driving,speeding,drinking and shuld pay the bills.

by kayla	Mar 25, 2008 3:33 PM
I know Nick feel sad for his friend, but if anyone else he been sue sooner. His parents should be accountable he was a minor and drinking, and past speeding (they did not punishing him for that). John bills will be costly and Hogan should p

by Todd	Mar 25, 2008 3:32 PM
John is the one who will never walk or talk. True he got in the car with his friend and his friend was drinking but Hogan let their 17 year old drive wreckless in past and now, and let him drink. I feel Hogans should pay the bills all Johns life.

by The king of kings	Mar 25, 2008 3:13 PM
Hogan will settle out of court for an undisclosed sum. Then he should never give his son another dime for anything.

by Paige	Mar 25, 2008 2:06 PM
Is this the life of the rich and famous? I am sure glad they are not my parents! They both need a life! Hulk play time is over, (30 years ago) and its time to act your age not your I.Q.!!

by Sean	Mar 25, 2008 1:37 PM
It is good to see alot of people thinking that John was just as much at fault as Nick. Both knew what they were doing. It is all fun and games till someone gets hurt.

by Dora	Mar 25, 2008 1:37 PM
I get so tired of hearing how horrible the Bolea family is. You know, that Graziano kid knew exactly how bad a driver nick is, and he still chose to get in the car. You can't tell me he didn't know they were gonna race. He is just as much t

by Kathy	Mar 25, 2008 1:37 PM
What a shame, Nick chose to "race" the other driver. What about the passenger with Daniel Jacobs? Nothing happens to him? He chose to go along. Give me a break. What does this other kid have? Nothing probably, leave him alone.

by Pete	Mar 25, 2008 11:09 AM
Rob They will have to pay the VA for services rendered for something that was not military related. I know when I got hurt my lawyer had to pay the va for medical services on me

by john	Mar 25, 2008 11:09 AM
The Hogan's should lose everything as a result of the son's gross misconduct, as well as his freedom!

by Ernie	Mar 25, 2008 11:09 AM
This is just the beginning of a long,legal process. There is culpability on behalf of John Graziano since he wasn't wearing his seat belt. That's about all for him. The rest is upon the driver and the auto's owners.

by BrutusTheBarber	Mar 25, 2008 10:07 AM
This was inevitable. I don't hold this against the Graziano's -- they have a been dealt a tragic nightmare that will never go away. Yes, John SHOULD have buckled up. Hopefully his legacy will be to make others think twice be

by Johnson	Mar 25, 2008 9:41 AM
This lawsuit is a complete and utter sham. Kid knowingly gets into a car as such with no seatbelt, and suddenly it's everyone else's fault. Might as well sue the DOT for allowing cars to go over 55mph!

by mimi	Mar 25, 2008 9:41 AM
professional guardian in control of $ in johns trust . his mom gets nothing but ability to care for her son. life goes on for hogans .the other driver got a slap on the wrist .revelations re: hogans & racing since accident harmed relationships i

by Rodger	Mar 25, 2008 9:40 AM
it's up to the driver of the vehicle to make sure everyone in the car has on seat belts. it's 100% up to the Bollea's to see John is taken care of for the rest of his life. Nick will never understand he is responsible because he w

by Joe	Mar 25, 2008 9:38 AM
when the VA pays for his care, we all pay. that is tax payer money taking care of this guy. the bollea's need to pay for his care, not you and i. to be honest after the attorney's fees, and the cost of his care, the family won't get

by SUSIE	Mar 25, 2008 9:36 AM
Now the truth is out. Linda encouraged racing, Terry bought the booze. John's mistake was to get in the car with NICK who has NO REGARD FOR THE LAW. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL OF IT AND MORE

by bird	Mar 25, 2008 9:00 AM
Bolleas were irresponsible and the apple didn't fall far from the tree. And, regarding the seat belt issue, isn't it the responsibility of the driver to make sure everyone buckles up?

by Eileen	Mar 25, 2008 9:00 AM
I am curious...1)Did he know Nick was drinking?? if yes, then why would he get into a car with someone who is drinking....2) How come in the pictures of the crash, driver seatbelt was cut, but the passenger seatbelt wasn't?? Just curio

by Stephanie	Mar 25, 2008 8:58 AM
All was good when John was hanging out with celebrities! Enjoying all the perks! If this accident had never happened he would still be SPEEDING and RACING with Nick! No one made him get in that car, he was 21. I see big money $$$$ for the family

by SJ	Mar 25, 2008 8:58 AM
They are a bunch of rich snobs who have relaized you cant buy your way out of EVERY situation. John was at fault. He certainly didnt have good taste in friends, that is for sure!

by Rob	Mar 25, 2008 8:57 AM
Interesting that since Hulk paid for the kid's initial surgeries and they certainly don't have to pay the VA hospital, wonder where this million dollar figure came from. Hope Hulk closes that foundation to raise money for John, no reason t

by Rob	Mar 25, 2008 8:57 AM
Nice job Graziano lawyers, did you seriously accuse Nick of "Drifting" on public streets? Ha ha, they are seriously clueless and it wouldn't surprise me if the Grazianos end up with less than they started with. What a bunch of greedy

by Jim	Mar 25, 2008 8:56 AM
Sue 'em, sue 'em into poverty. They think they're royalty and can do ANYTHING they want. Send a message, a VERY BIG message.

by Annoyed	Mar 25, 2008 8:56 AM
Passengers should be held responsible for their decision to get into the car with a knowingly intoxicated driver, or in this case, a driver planning to race. Quit money grubbing and accept responsibility for personal decisions.

by betty	Mar 24, 2008 8:41 PM
i agree that the va is paying for his care so are we right in thinking these people see dollar signs for themselves??

by Neville	Mar 24, 2008 8:39 PM
Yes tb...he is being cared for by the VA, and we are footing the bill, but the VA will have a lien on the proceeds of any settlement or jury verdict and will be reimbursed in full...Grazianos have no choice...by the way John earned his benefits.

by carla	Mar 24, 2008 8:36 PM
i think it is a shame that these parents are trying to get rich off their childs friends who was riding along for the ride as well. some compensation should be made but come on.the va will be covering this right? fun sometimes comes with a price!

by DWI	Mar 24, 2008 7:40 PM
How bout Nicks charge of DWI?? with bodily injury?? dont drink and drive!!

by Lenore	Mar 24, 2008 6:48 PM
For all of those saying John should take 50% responsibility. He is in a coma and probably will be for the rest of his life. I am pretty sure he is paying his price. More money can be earned by Hogan. John can't get his life back.

by tb	Mar 24, 2008 6:09 PM
While I feel for the Graziano family, their son is being cared for by the VA, which means we are footing the bill. Are they going to use these funds to reiburse the VA?

by sk	Mar 24, 2008 4:56 PM
I feel so badly for the Graziano family. However, John Graziano was over 21 and climbed into the car and did not buckle his safety belt. He knew Nick liked street racing, so that is assumed risk. I say 50 %liability mentioned above is about righ

by Fu	Mar 24, 2008 4:42 PM
Well !...it looks like the high and mighty are falling! I am taking the side of the Graziano family.