“Star Trek” actor Anton Yelchin was responsible for his own death in June at age 27, according to legal papers filed by a car dealership this week.
In an answer to a lawsuit filed by Yelchin’s parents, Valencia CJD denies liability in the actor’s death and lays blame for the fatal incident at the his feet.
“Defendant alleges the injuries and damages, if any, or which the plaintiffs complain were caused and/or contributed to by the negligence of plaintiffs’ decedent which bars any recovery herein or the alleged damages of plaintiffs, in any, are reduced according to law,” Valencia CJD said in its filing with Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.
Yelchin was killed after his car pinned him between a brick mailbox and a security gate at his Studio City, California, home.
Yelchin reportedly owned a late-model Jeep Grand Cherokee, which might have been one of the vehicles subjected to a voluntary recall due to a risk of “rollaway.”
In August, Yelchin’s parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Valencia CJD, Jeep manufacturer FCA US and others.
“Plaintiffs … allege that the Subject Vehicle along with the Subject Gear Selector failed to meet the reasonable expectations of safety for the class of persons of which Decedent and Plaintiffs were members,” the lawsuit reads.
In its answer to the lawsuit, Valencia CJD also claimed that modification to the car might also be to blame for the incident.
“Defendant alleges the damages allegedly sustained by plaintiffs were the proximate result of plaintiffs’, decedent’s or other’s misuse, misapplication or damage of the product or modification, repair and/or maintenance of the product involved which failed to conform with defendant’s specifications,” CJD’s answer read.
The suit claims that Yelchin’s parents have “incurred substantial funeral and burial expenses” and have suffered “the loss of Decedent’s love, companionship, guidance, comfort, society, solace, moral support financial support and physical assistance.”
Alleging negligent product liability, breach of warranty and negligence (wrongful death and personal injuries), the suit seeks unspecified damages.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.