NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The public's negative reaction to country singer Barbara Mandrell's $10.3 million damage suit against the family of a teenage traffic victim has 'saddened' the star, her attorney said.
'She is aware of it and saddened,' attorney Aubrey Harwell said Friday of the criticism. 'She has given so much to this community throughout her career.
'It's just not fair for her to be criticized for doing nothing more than pursuing the same rights as every other citizen,' he added.
Mandrell was released late Thursday from Baptist Hospital, where she had been recovering from the Caesarian section birth Sept. 6 of a son.
The award-winning singer suffered a severe concussion, a broken ankle and a broken right femur in a wreck Sept. 11, 1984, in suburban Hendersonville. Her two children also were injured, but not severely.
Her car was struck head-on by another car driven by Mark White, 19, of Lebanon, who was killed in the accident. The police report said the teenager's car crossed the center line into the path of Mandrell's silver Jaguar.
During her recuperation, she received thousands of cards, letters and other communications from fans across the world.
But when the suit was filed last week, negative reaction set in. Most of the criticism was leveled because Mandrell filed the suit against the White family.
'There have been a number of calls highly critical of our clients pursuing their legal rights,' Harwell said.
'I attribute this to a lack of understanding of the law in most instances. Nonetheless, it's tragic that it's occurring. It's especially tragic in the timing when it should be a time of great joy by virtue of a new baby.'
Following Mandrell's accident, she could not perform for eight months but still had high business expenses.
The suit accused White of negligence and asked $10.3 million for Mandrell, her husband and two children.
White's father, Richard J. White, said he did not think the suit was aimed at hurting him.
'She's not out to hurt me and mine. As I understand it, it (being named) in the suit as a defendant is sort of a legal technicality,' he said.
Harwell said Friday Mandrell and her husband, Ken Dudney, had to sue the family to collect from the insurance company.
'Procedurally, in the state of Tennessee, it's the only way you can do it,' Harwell said.
