Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed In Beecher Tragedy

JOLIET, IL - Nearly five months have passed since Sean Woulfe exited the Will County Adult Detention Facility after posting bond in connection with the July 24 collision at a rural Will County intersection that killed van driver Lindsey Schmidt, her three young boys and her unborn child. Woulfe, 25, has been charged with 16 counts of reckless homicide in connection with the Beecher tragedy. Now, Woulfe has been named as the defendant in a wrongful death civil lawsuit filed at the Will County Courthouse. The 10-page lawsuit was filed by Chicago attorney Esther Joy Schwartz of the law firm Schwartz Gilligan in Chicago. The lawsuit asks the Will County court to impose a monetary judgment of more than $50,000 against Woulfe, plus legal costs for bringing the suit.

The lawsuit lists Edward Schmidt as special administrator of the probate estates for his late wife, Lindsey Schmidt, their late sons Owen Schmidt, Weston Schmidt, Kaleb Schmidt and Baby Doe Schmidt.

According to the plaintiff's case, "Sean Woulfe committed one or more of the following negligent acts and or omissions:

1. Failed to keep his motor vehicle under proper control
2. Failed to keep a proper look out
3. Disobeyed traffic signals, signs and controls
4. Operated his motor vehicle at an excessive rate of speed
5. Failed to yield the right of way.

The lawsuit explains that Woulfe failed to stop at the intersection of Yates Avenue and Corning Road in Will County's Washington Township. The deadly crash occurred at 8:48 a.m.

Sean Woulfe

"By virtue of the wrongful death of decedent, Lindsey Schmidt, her heirs and next of kin sustained pecuniary loss and damage, including loss of decedent's society and companionship ..." the lawsuit noted.

Meanwhile, Woulfe is scheduled to be back at the Will County Courthouse at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Courtroom 402 for a pretrial hearing for his reckless homicide criminal case.

RELATED: Woulfe Makes Bail, No Longer In Jail

Schmidt family photo via Becky Broderick of Broderick photography, mugshot of Sean Woulfe via Will County Sheriff's Department