mrbubl
May 5th 04, 04:17 PM
SMU professor in collision once drove into students
Her lawyer says crosswalk incident is coincidence, not pattern
07:06 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
By MICHAEL GRABELL / The Dallas Morning News
A Southern Methodist University law school professor accused of running down
a lawyer with her car was involved in an accident four months ago in which
she hit two SMU law students who were walking in a crosswalk, according to
police reports.
Jane Dolkart, an expert in labor law related to sexuality and gender, was
arrested Sunday and charged with assaulting a man who was cycling at White
Rock Lake in what Dallas police called a road rage incident. Tommy Thomas
suffered scrapes and bruises.
On Dec. 30, second-year law students Ashley Stewart and Renee Chafitz, both
24, were hit at Hillcrest and Daniel avenues as they were walking from the
SMU library to a cookie store. Neither student was injured seriously.
Ms. Dolkart, 56, told police the sun was in her eyes.
"I don't think she did it on purpose," said Ms. Stewart, who was on an
extracurricular mock trial team coached by Ms. Dolkart. "I believe she
legitimately had the sun in her eyes."
Ms. Dolkart's attorney, James Vasilas, said it is only a coincidence that
the two incidents happened within a few months of each other.
"Circumstances happen," he said. "I would say unequivocally it is not a
pattern of behavior that there's something wrong with Jane Dolkart. Not at
all."
The accident report said Ms. Dolkart failed to check the pedestrian
crosswalk and that the glare would not have blocked her vision of the
crosswalk. She was charged with driving without insurance.
Mr. Vasilas said she had insurance, but the proof of insurance wasn't in her
car.
Dallas police said that on Sunday, Mr. Thomas, a Dallas business lawyer, was
cycling with a friend on West Lawther Road south of Mockingbird Lane when
Ms. Dolkart came up behind them honking and screaming. She followed them
around a U-turn and then rammed her car into Mr. Thomas' bike, police said.
Mr. Vasilas said his client, who was also on her way for a bike ride, tapped
the horn to alert them that she was behind them and then accidentally hit
Mr. Thomas.
Ms. Dolkart posted a bond Sunday night. The Dallas Police Department is
investigating and will refer the case to a grand jury to determine whether
she will be indicted on aggravated assault charges.
Her lawyer says crosswalk incident is coincidence, not pattern
07:06 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
By MICHAEL GRABELL / The Dallas Morning News
A Southern Methodist University law school professor accused of running down
a lawyer with her car was involved in an accident four months ago in which
she hit two SMU law students who were walking in a crosswalk, according to
police reports.
Jane Dolkart, an expert in labor law related to sexuality and gender, was
arrested Sunday and charged with assaulting a man who was cycling at White
Rock Lake in what Dallas police called a road rage incident. Tommy Thomas
suffered scrapes and bruises.
On Dec. 30, second-year law students Ashley Stewart and Renee Chafitz, both
24, were hit at Hillcrest and Daniel avenues as they were walking from the
SMU library to a cookie store. Neither student was injured seriously.
Ms. Dolkart, 56, told police the sun was in her eyes.
"I don't think she did it on purpose," said Ms. Stewart, who was on an
extracurricular mock trial team coached by Ms. Dolkart. "I believe she
legitimately had the sun in her eyes."
Ms. Dolkart's attorney, James Vasilas, said it is only a coincidence that
the two incidents happened within a few months of each other.
"Circumstances happen," he said. "I would say unequivocally it is not a
pattern of behavior that there's something wrong with Jane Dolkart. Not at
all."
The accident report said Ms. Dolkart failed to check the pedestrian
crosswalk and that the glare would not have blocked her vision of the
crosswalk. She was charged with driving without insurance.
Mr. Vasilas said she had insurance, but the proof of insurance wasn't in her
car.
Dallas police said that on Sunday, Mr. Thomas, a Dallas business lawyer, was
cycling with a friend on West Lawther Road south of Mockingbird Lane when
Ms. Dolkart came up behind them honking and screaming. She followed them
around a U-turn and then rammed her car into Mr. Thomas' bike, police said.
Mr. Vasilas said his client, who was also on her way for a bike ride, tapped
the horn to alert them that she was behind them and then accidentally hit
Mr. Thomas.
Ms. Dolkart posted a bond Sunday night. The Dallas Police Department is
investigating and will refer the case to a grand jury to determine whether
she will be indicted on aggravated assault charges.