Jared Fogle, former Subway spokesman, experienced an incredibly quick plummet from grace after he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and sexually assaulting minors. He was sentenced to over 15 years in prison, and is currently serving out that sentence, but civil suits against Fogle are still making their way through the court system. Fogle is fighting one particular civil suit against a girl whose photos he allegedly had possession of, and has a particularly gross countersuit–Fogle is claiming that her parents are responsible for the emotional anguish she is currently experiencing due to their divorce.
His alleged victim is reportedly seeking $150,000 in damages because she was unknowingly photographed nude and semi-nude by hidden cameras when she was a child by Fogle’s known accomplice Russell Taylor. Taylor–as well as his wife, who allegedly knew about the creation of child pornography–are also named in the lawsuit against Fogle.
But Fogle’s argument is what’s making the news, because it’s particularly upsetting. Fogle is claiming that she was neglected by her divorced parents. He claims that that supposed neglect and the fact that her parents fought in front of her are the root causes of her emotional distress. According to his lawyers, via court papers obtained by the Daily Mail:
B.T. and J.T. maintained a hateful and abusive relationship toward each other, which included, but was not limited to, engaging in frequent fighting and arguing between themselves; abusing alcohol and getting drunk; and engaging in frequent fighting, physical abuse, and arguing with Jane Doe, which caused Jane Doe to suffer from emotional distress, anxiety, and major depression before she learned of any allegations [about Fogle and Taylor].
Another section reads:
B.T. and J.T., by their actions, caused Jane Doe to suffer from emotional distress and depression which then resulted in Jane Doe engaging in destructive behaviors, including, but not limited to alcohol abuse, substance abuse, self-mutilation, and suicidal ideation with regard to which B.T. and J.T. are liable.
If you thought Fogle couldn’t get any more hated…this may do it–there’s been a lot of understandable outrage over these claims.