Estate of Bengals Player Files Negligence Lawsuit Against Fiance

January 23, 2012

The estate of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry is suing his fiance, accusing her of negligence in his death in Charlotte.

The Charlotte Observer reports that a wrongful death lawsuit filed this month in a North Carolina Superior Court on behalf of Henry’s estate claims that his injuries were caused by Loleini Tonga’s negligence.

Police said Henry and Tonga were involved in a domestic dispute on Dec. 16, 2009. She drove away in a pickup truck, but as she drove, Henry jumped into the truck bed and later fell. Henry died the next day.

No charges were filed against Tonga, who has said Henry jumped from the truck, but not to harm himself. A Tonga family member identified as the truck’s owner is also named in the lawsuit.