Hulk Hogan, also known as Terry Bollea

Nick Hogan, also known as Terry Bolldriver

Im not sure if the Hulk even has millions anymore
well maybe Brook's career will take hold
uh oh Hulk better start rasslin again

A case of, don't sue the responsible party, sue the money.

My father is a lawyer for the state of CA. If there's any way to sue a person or entity that is perceived to have deep pockets, it will always happen. Like the state of CA, Hulk Hogan may/may not ACTUALLY have deep pockets, but people probably think he does.

Bet that's why his wifey is "divorcing" him. But, yer honor, that b**tch has my assets all tied up!!

shocker.

despite the fact that the hulkster's kid is a prick, this other kid knew what he was getting into, i would wager.

From pussy magnet to lawsuit magnet in the blink of an eye. And of course the kid not wearing the seatbelt wasn't complicit because he wasn't any smarter than the driver. And that folks is how you go from being young and rich to young and poor quicker than that car would get to 60.

Bet the car was titled/registered to Terry anyway. Easy case in Florida or anywhere really. Owner of the car is responsible. That's why you have to carry so much insurance on a lease.

@harumph: yeah, he was all like "Nick let's go cruising so you can cave my skull in and I can drool on myself for sixty years!"

If any parents deserve to have their ass sued, its these clowns....let your kid drive your 600+ HP car and they *will* drive it like an idiot. I am not typically OK with most lawsuits but the Hogans really deserve what they get.

1. Poor boy done good.
2. Said poor boy buys son a hot car, sparing said son the "indignity" of having to earn anything on his own, or the "inconvenience" of having to wait to grow up to take on the responsibility of owning a hot car.
3. Said son is left to roam the country in said hot car.

Oh, I see now! It's a three step wealth re-distribution system!

Next car's name "Litigation Magnet"

I would be curious to read the accident report, How can you go from drag racing someone to slamming a tree backwards? And was the injuries the passenger recieved because he was thrown out, or hit something after the intial impact. Wierd crash

this is standard practice. You sue the owner of the car. The insurance company steps in to defend you (Themselves). They pay out on your behalf if neglect is found. I read elsewhere that the suit is for $15000. In hindsight, I think that was a typo.

Time to retire "p***y magnet yellow" as a color, and start calling it what it is - "lawyer yellow"...

@htrodblder: He likely lost control, over- or under-corrected to compensate for whatever his car was doing, then ass-packed the tree...

From a loia's perspective, Graziano's not wearing a seatbelt is what's called contributory/comparative negligence. It'd lessen whatever culpability young Mr. Pussy Magnet had...

As for the Hulkster's responsibility, that would take some good lawyering. I mean, c'mon, 17 is likely the age of majority in FL, and, even if it isn't, to hold the parent liable for the negligent actions of a son driving is a stretch.

For negligence you need 1.) a duty, 2.) a breech of the duty, 3.) causation, and 4.) harm. How did the Hulkster owe Graziano a duty? I dunno, but I ain't a high priced ambulance-chasing loia...

@sliderule: Good call, I didn't think about that. The Hulkster likely owned the car. This is why I'm a gov't schlub atty and not an ambulance chaser. That and I have a soul.

@htrodblder: Backwards into the tree is accomplished by losing control of vehicle, over-correcting, gaining momentary control and over-reacting again. Takes less time to do than it did to type this response.

@Rock517: Owning the property in question, said PM Yella Supra, constitutes a duty.

Head trauma is nasty stuff - look at what Richard "the Hamster" Hammond has gone public about since the rocket car crash. The oldest brother of a co-worker of mine 15 years ago had suffered head trauma in a motorcycle crash (he WAS wearing his helmet). He would threaten family members with kitchen knives, then have no recollection. He eventually took his own life.

One should know better than to get into a car that has a knob its the steering wheel.

Oh, and as for the 17 year old having access to the Supra... that's a recipe for disaster. When I got my license, I got to drive the family Ford wagon, with a wimpy 351W V8; anemic in a '70 full-size car. When I was on good behavior, I was allowed to drive the '73 220D MBZ stick, but almost exclusively with one or both parents onboard. If I had a teenage son, I'd probably hobble him with a Volvo sporting the smallest engine offered...

@Solo_Racer:
But, I thought he was a professional drifter... who drifted his ass into a tree.

No, seriously, if I read the news article about this right, the reason they're suing Hulk is because Nick "the Prick" Bollea was 17 at the time of his crash, making his parent's legally responsible for his actions since he's not legally an adult.

All that said... I don't know if you can argue complicity by getting in the car with a jackass who is driving something clearly more powerful than what he can handle (I have seen him quote drift end quote), but I do think that you'll have the other side argue that had the guy been wearing a seatbelt, he may not need constant care for the rest of his life...

One of those things that would effect the overall judgment if not get the Bolleas off the hook.

In other words, Nick's at fault for the injuries (and thus his parents are legally responsible), but the guy injured is at fault for the severity of his injuries.

Oh, and just to make sure that everyone understands my feelings on this... I thought Nick Bollea was a jackass, and despite the fact that no one gets into a car thinking they are going to be killed/injured in an accident... there is a reason I don't sit shotgun in a car with a guy I know is prone to douchebaggery in a car... and that includes anyone who would refer to his car publicly or privately as a "pussy magnet".

And if I absolutely have to... then I'm going to strap myself in and pray to God for the best.

I am sure there will be a great focus on the lack of seat belt use and on Hulk Minor's escape unharmed with seat belt. I know statutes vary, but in some places if you can show the injured party had contributory negligence, it negates the damage claim.

@charles_barrett:
My first car was an 89 Jeep Comanche with a 250 lb. steel bumper made by a guy who built dumpsters. First off, took me about a year and a half to figure out how to make it go fast, and when I did, I learned how to drift before I knew what it meant.

Facing facts, kids are going to learn how to do stupid stuff in whatever car you give them. It's just the reality of it. I knew a kid with an Esteem... he used to offroad it and jump "ramps" made out of whatever would support the weight of the vehicle (didn't take much).

All that said, you give a kid anything with more than 150 hp and you're asking for that kid to kill himself or someone else, let alone 500+.

If you want your kid to be a race car driver, you start them out young racing go karts and progressively move them up through the system. You certainly don't put them in a full on race car at first because that's how people get hurt.

A six hundred horsepower, front-engined rear wheel drive car. Think that might be a little twitchy? It doesn't matter how cool it is, putting that much power into a car can be very dangerous. A car like that should only be driven with an ambulance, a fire team, and possibly a helicopter standing by in case something goes wrong. I doubt that there is anyone in the world who would deny that buying a 600 hp supra for a seventeen year old will definitely end up with a large crash and someone seriously injured. The hulkster was completely negligent to buy that car for his son, and certainly to let him drive it.

I wouldn't be shocked if that car turned out to have been tuned to the point where it was no longer street legal. I know in Ontario that such a car would not be street legal. If the car has parts that were not there for any of the registration process could make this case pretty simple for a judge.

Keep in mind too that Nick Bollea has competed in drifting, and crashed a viper in the exact same manner that he crashed the supra. That could be introduced into the case, and they might try to imply that he was intentionally drifting the car on public roads.

I might also add that some responsibility for seatbelts rests on the driver. I don't allow people in my car without seatbelts, especially if they're sitting shotgun. If you want to operate a motor vehicle, then you have some responsibility to the occupants about safety.

Terry Bollea certainly bears responsibility in this case. He should never be allowing his son to drive souped up supras and vipers. Nick Bollea is 17, he is a new and inexperienced driver and should never be entrusted with a car that is so powerful and dangerous. I hope that they get sued for an incredible amount of money, because the victim is going to need constant care for the rest of his life. Someone needs to pay the nursing costs.

I think nick needs to be sentenced to bed-pan duty at minimum wage in the local trauma ward for about,let's see,,,,the rest of HIS miserable life?

@harumph:
No, actually it was apparently because he was cheating on her with his daughter's friend. Hulkimania starts young and runs deep, my friends.

Concerning the wreck and lawsuit... damn shame, and it did kind of ruin his life. Failure to wear a seatbelt? Do not pass go, do no collect five million dollars, or whatever figure you deem appropriate. Nick walked away relatively unharmed. Was he wearing his seatbelt? Nobody told you not to.

@ash78: LOL!!

@Solo_Racer: Yea, I didn't think about the Hulkster owning the car. Unless he was smart enough to title the Pussy Magnet in his son's name... Doubtful.

One thing that I did not see mentioned is that evidence exists that proves the Hogans not only handed him a loaded gun, but actively encouraged him to pull the trigger. Anyone ever see the video footage of Mrs. Hulk street racing and talking about how bitchin' it is? You know that will come up in court.

BTW: The girl Hulk was cheating with was like 33-35 or something, not his daughters age...its not as bad as some make it sound IMO.

@Evil-Jeremy: A friend of mine wrecked an Elise his wife rented for him for V-day. He was used to a 400HP FWD SRT-4, but had no idea how to handle a 180HP RR layout flyweight after it lost traction when he launched it from a light. Gotta learn the car before you learn the consequences, alright. Moment of inertia can turn into an "Oh shit" moment faster than you can publicly humiliate yourself.

I feel for the kid and his family, but if you're gonna race, which I think he knew all to well was going to happen, you put on a helmet and seatbelt and sign your waiver like a big boy. Not that it wasn't a bad call to hand a 900WHP capable car to a spoiled teenage male.

@linoth: "My Hulkamania runs deep. So deep, put that ass ta sleep..."

Seatbelts, use them. Oh, and if you have a car that's this powerful I think you should invest in a bit of a roll cage. I almost forgot... wear your damn seatbelts.

Was John Graziano FORCED into the car?

Was he whering a seat belt?

Does Hulk Hogan, aka Terry Bollea, actually have a million dollars of money?

Find out next time on "as the pussy-magnet spins"...

I'm not from that area, but all you have to do is get on the supra forums or local boards for that area to find videos of all kinds of people racing him (or at least that car). A couple of them even have that viper in them as well. I can't really pass judgement, because I (as well as prolly most of us here) have driven crazy fast where I shouldnt have at some point. Just seems it was an everyday thing for him, and it's going to catch up with you if you do it all the time. I don't agree with crazy high dollar lawsuits, but seatbelt or not, it was his craziness/lack of skill that landed his friend in that position. I don't know about multi-millions, but I feel his friend is definately entitled to a nice chunk of money, if only to pay for the care he will need, and lack of ability to make a living for himself.

If they're smart (and there is no evidence they are), they'll try to settle this out of court. Pay up now or the lawyers get it all. Big long lawsuits kill everybody involved, 'cept the lawyers.

I hadn't really looked at the pictures that close. Damn, that's a refrigerator magnet now.

I've seen many updates in the local paper, but never seen several of the pics above (overhead shot in particular).

Looking at the photos again - something just occurred to me... John G may have been so devastatingly injured by an untethered speaker box in the back of the car. All that boom boom gear flying around like the proverbial box of tissues on the back deck (nod to mythbusters) - right into the dude's cranium. What I read locally based on a first responder's off the record statement - is he had a big hole in his forehead.. which I couldn't figure out for a rear-impact collision.. except it makes some sense knowing he was unbelted.. and likely turned around to see what they were gonna hit.

Pussy Magnet no more.

@Evil-Jeremy: If you want your kid to be a "professional" driver of any kind (including the idiocy of drifting-only because it uses grossly overpowered vehicles) the FIRST thing you go is to teach them not to do it on the street. Only in a controlled environment. Otherwise, you aren't a competitor, you are a show off moron.

As far as culpability, no one can prove definitively the difference in damage the kid suffered by not wearing his seatbelt. They can however prove that the kid would have been significantly LESS injured (i.e. NOT) if Nick wouldn't have broken the law and wrecked the car.

Nick's responsibility may be reduced slightly because of the seatbelt, but not much. Not saying it's right or wrong, I'm saying that's how these cases go.

Terry-settle or declare bankruptcy. Then abort little Nicky.

I smell a new reality show once all the boo-whoo stops...

"whatcha gonna do now brother?!!"

Perhaps you could have picked a safer hobby to share with your son other than hoonage.

Not sure how you can sue someone that had absolutely nothing to do with the crash, but ok....I wouldn't give that prick a dime.

@Saboth:
Nick Bollea is a minor in his parents custody.

Therefore, Terry Bollea and his wife (whatever her name is) are legally responsible for his actions.

Yeah if he was a minor or an employee doing business and caused it due to being a wreckless jackass racing on wet roads, his daddy is responsible for that. Guess who bought him the car and paid to have it souped up? It wasn't his son who earned that money.
It's unreal, I've never had kids, but if I did they would get a car, but if they got one moving violation that party would be over. Teenage boys are disasters waiting to happen when it comes to cars, I know, I remember all the screwed up things I did back in the day. Sure his dad is responsible for his actions legally.

Also if someone is doing a job for a company and wrecks you and ruins your life, that company, not just the net worth of the person doing it, is held culpable. So many people learn too late that they can be sued up to their net worth for permanent damage done in an accident. I pay the extra for a policy covering that amount, just because I don't want to lose my house and life if I screw up and cause a life shattering accident.