Attorneys for Jared Fogle, the former Subway spokesman who pleaded guilty last year to distribution of child pornography, argue in a new court filing that the parents of one of his victims are to blame for her "destructive behaviors."
A judge in November sentenced Fogle to 15-and-a-half years in prison for his part in a child pornography scheme that included the former head of his anti-obesity charity, Russell Taylor. Taylor was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
The family of one of the victims, who was identified in court records as Jane Doe, in March filed a federal lawsuit in Indianapolis against Fogle, Taylor and Taylor's wife, The Indianapolis Star reported. The suit seeks at least $300,000 in damages for, among other things, personal injury and emotional distress.
Fogle's attorneys on Thursday asked that Jane Doe's parents be named as third parties to the suit because the divorced pair "maintained a hateful and abusive relationship toward each other," NBC reported.
The parents also abused alcohol in front of the girl, according to the lawsuit.
"Fogle has been provided with documented evidence which indicates that Jane Doe's parents, through their actions, caused or significantly contributed to the injuries and damages alleged by Jane Doe in her complaint against the defendants," according to the motion.
A judge has yet to rule on the motion.
Prosecutors said last year that Taylor used hidden cameras in his Indianapolis-area home for years to secretly film 12 minors. He shared some of the images with Fogle, who encouraged him to continue filming.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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