Lawsuits filed against Kraft, companies for deaths

Posted: 11/20/12 at 6:40 pm EST      Last Updated: 11/20/12 at 7:08 pm EST

FOXBORO, Mass. (WHDH) -- Lawyers for Patriots owner Robert Kraft were in court Tuesday defending him from allegations that he's partly to blame for a 2008 crash that killed two young women.

The women were leaving a country music festival at Gillette Stadium and an autopsy showed they were drunk and underage. Lawyers for their families say as the owner of Gillette-Kraft is responsible for their actions.

Bob Kraft was not present in court but he has a lot at stake; Gillette Stadium is the place where everyone goes to have a good time -- whether it's for a Pats game or a music venue. And depending on how the judge rules on Tuesday’s motions, all of that could change.

The Davis family appeared in court, fighting for their daughter, Debra, who was killed in a car crash along with Alexa Latteo after a day of drinking in the parking lot of a country music festival at Gillette Stadium.

Debra Davis’ mother says Bob Kraft is partly responsible.

“You have to do the right thing. That’s all we’re saying. Do the right thing,” said Maryann Davis, victim’s mother.

The Davis’ want their daughter’s case to go before a jury. Bob Kraft's lawyer, however, is asking the judge to dismiss the case entirely.

“On the day of the accident, there’s no dispute that they illegally transported and possessed alcohol and ultimately abused it on the property,” said Douglas Fox, Kraft’s attorney.

Kraft’s lawyer told the judge no one in the parking lot served or sold alcohol to anyone who was tailgating. But Davis’ lawyer said security should have been doing more and claims police and Gillette officials were called to a town meeting.

“They were all called to Foxboro because it was foreseeable that somebody was going to get killed and that young people were badly, badly in a depraved situation at the country music festival,” said Joseph Borsellino, Davis’ attorney.

The town meeting was based on previous festivals and outrageous partying.

Nina Houlihan said they had been drinking all day before she climbed into Latteo’s car with Debra Davis, and crashed into a tree.

“I remember quite a bit. And I remember my two friends in the front seat afterwards which is probably the toughest part about it all,” she said.

Houlihan is seeking $500,000 in damages while the Davis’ are seeking $2.5 million.

Houlihan said she is partly to blame, but no one checked them for tickets to get inside the parking lot.

The judge has taken the case under advisement.

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