It’s not every day the worlds of wrestling and insurance collide – and while on this occasion no blows were exchanged, one former WWE star still remains firmly in a legal full nelson.
Tammy Lynn Sytch, better known to wrestling fans as “Sunny”, was one of World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest stars in the late 1990s, even becoming the most downloaded woman on AOL. Fast forward to today, however, and the WWE Hall of Famer, who has also dabbled in the world of adult entertainment, finds herself firmly behind bars.
Sytch has been at the center of controversy since her wrestling run, having been involved in numerous arrests for DUIs and other offences. Her issues took a horrifying turn, however, when one DUI crash led to the death of Julian Lasseter.
According to a PWInsider report, a lawsuit was filed by Jana Olivova on the back of the fatal DUI – she was a passenger in another car that had been impacted during the incident. The issue was set to go to trial in July, in front of the Circuit Court of Volusia County, in Florida – with more than $50,000 being sought. Olivova had filed the lawsuit against Sytch, her then fiancé James Pente and her own insurance company, GEICO.
“As a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendant, TAMARA SYTCH, Plaintiff, JANA OLIVOVA, suffered bodily injury including a permanent injury to the body as a whole, pain and suffering of both a physical and mental nature, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, aggravation of an existing condition, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of earnings, loss of ability to earn money and loss of ability to lead and enjoy a normal life,” the original lawsuit read.
“The losses are either permanent or continuing and Plaintiff will suffer the losses in the future. Plaintiff, JANA OLIVOVA also suffered other damages, including, but not limited to, loss of the use of the subject vehicle, damage to the subject vehicle. Plaintiff, JANA OLIVOVA, will suffer or incur the injuries, expenses and impairment in the future.”
The lawsuit was subsequently amended in July 2023, with GEICO becoming the sole defendant. However, a notice was filed earlier this month that the two sides had reached a settlement deal – with no figure published. It has now been filed for voluntary dismissal, awaiting a judge’s official sign-off.
While one lawsuit may have been settled, it appears there is no end in sight for Tammy Sytch’s legal troubles. On the civil lawsuit front, she still faces a lawsuit from the estate of Lasseter. She was arrested back in March 2022 for one count of DUI causing death – established as DUI manslaughter – as well as four counts of DUI leading to the injury of a person, three counts of DUI causing damage to property and one count of causing death while in operation of a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.
Sytch was sentenced to 17 years, plus a further eight years on probation, back in November last year. She is not set to be released until November, 2039.
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