CJ-2026-1019 - Anthony Allen v. Sara June Asay

What's This Case About?

Let’s be honest: most of us have been this close to getting T-boned at a red light, heart pounding, muttering a furious prayer to the traffic god. But Anthony Allen didn’t just get lucky—he got rammed, knocked unconscious, and then had to listen to the driver who hit him casually admit, “Yeah, I wasn’t really paying attention, I was busy eavesdropping on my passenger’s phone call.” That’s right—this isn’t a case about texting and driving. It’s about listening to someone else’s phone conversation while blowing through a red light and plowing into another human being. And now, Anthony Allen is suing for $150,000, because apparently, Oklahoma has a price tag for near-death by secondhand gossip.

So who are these people? On one side, we’ve got Anthony Allen, a resident of Henryetta, Oklahoma—population 5,000, home of the famous “Big Chicken” statue, and, now, the home base of a man who just wanted to turn left onto East 31st Street in Tulsa and go about his day. He’s not a celebrity. He’s not a TikTok influencer. He’s just a guy with a job, a car, and, presumably, a deep and abiding respect for traffic signals. On the other side is Sara June Asay, a Tulsa local who, on March 13, 2024, decided that the most important thing in her life at that moment wasn’t the red light in front of her, or the cross traffic, or the laws of physics—but rather, the riveting details of her passenger’s phone call. We don’t know what the conversation was about. Was it a juicy breakup? A family drama? A work scandal? All we know is that it was so engrossing that Sara didn’t even notice she was barreling through a red light directly into the driver’s side of Anthony Allen’s car. Spoiler: it did not end well for Anthony.

Here’s how it went down. Anthony was doing everything by the book. He was stopped at a red light on the off-ramp from Highway 64/51, waiting like a law-abiding citizen. The light turned green. He began to move—lawfully, smoothly, probably humming along to some classic rock or a podcast about local history. Meanwhile, Sara Asay, traveling west on East 31st Street, approached the same intersection. Her light? Red. But instead of stopping, she kept going. Why? According to her own admission to the police, she was distracted—not by her phone, not by eating, not by applying makeup—but by listening to her passenger’s phone call. That’s like getting hit by a car because the driver was too busy watching a podcast on someone else’s earbuds. The front right of her vehicle slammed into the driver’s side of Anthony’s car with such force that his head snapped into the window, and he lost consciousness. Let that sink in: a man was knocked out cold because someone couldn’t stop eavesdropping on a conversation that wasn’t even hers.

And here’s the kicker: the police showed up, Sara admitted she ran the red light and that she wasn’t paying attention because of the phone call, and she got cited. So this isn’t some “he said, she said” situation. This is a clear-cut case of “she said, to the police, that she wasn’t paying attention while running a red light and hitting someone.” It’s like if someone robbed a bank and then told the cops, “Yeah, I did it, I was distracted by a really good audiobook.” The facts are not in dispute. The question now is: what does that cost?

Anthony Allen is suing on six different legal grounds, which sounds excessive—until you realize that in civil court, throwing the legal kitchen sink at someone is basically standard procedure. First, Negligence Per Se—a fancy way of saying, “You broke the law (running a red light), and that law exists to protect people like me, so you’re automatically on the hook.” Then, plain old Negligence, because sometimes you gotta cover your bases. Then it escalates: Gross Negligence, meaning this wasn’t just a mistake—it was a “want of the slightest care,” like driving with your eyes closed. Then Recklessness, which implies she knew she was creating a huge risk but did it anyway. Then Property Damage, because, surprise, his car got totaled. And finally, the pièce de résistance: Punitive Damages—not to compensate Anthony, but to punish Sara and make an example of her. Because, let’s face it, if we don’t slap a big fine on people who zone out during their friend’s phone call and plow into innocent drivers, who will?

Anthony is asking for $150,000 total. $50,000 for the personal injury claims (they’re stacked, but the demand isn’t duplicated), $10,000 for the car, and a cool $100,000 in punitive damages. Now, is $150,000 a lot? For a car accident? Depends. If you’re Sara June Asay and you work at a gas station, that’s a life-ruining sum. If you have insurance (and you better have insurance), it’s a serious but manageable claim. But the punitive part—that $100,000—is where this case gets spicy. Punitive damages aren’t awarded just because someone messed up. They’re for when the behavior is so outrageous it deserves punishment. And let’s be real: driving through a red light because you’re too busy listening to someone else’s drama? That’s not just careless. That’s a special kind of oblivious. It’s the legal equivalent of serving a subpoena with a side of shame.

Now, here’s our take: the most absurd part of this case isn’t that someone got distracted and caused an accident. We live in 2026. Distraction is the national pastime. No, the absurd part is the flavor of distraction. We’ve heard of texting, of scrolling, of eating a burrito like a cartoon character. But listening to a passenger’s phone call? That’s next-level. It’s like her brain went, “My eyes are busy, my hands are busy, but my ears? They’re free. Let’s tune in.” And in that moment, she transformed from a driver into a passive consumer of someone else’s life, while operating a two-ton metal box at 30 miles per hour. It’s almost poetic—if it hadn’t knocked a man unconscious.

Do we feel bad for Sara? Sure, in the abstract. We’ve all zoned out. But this wasn’t zoning out while stopped. This was active, motion-based, red-light-ignoring negligence. And Anthony Allen didn’t just walk away with a dent. He lost consciousness. He’s dealing with ongoing medical issues, pain, lost income, and the lingering trauma of being violently struck because someone couldn’t mind their own business. So while $150,000 might sound like a lot, the punitive portion? That’s not about the money. It’s about sending a message: if you’re going to treat driving like a background activity while you binge your passenger’s drama, you might just find yourself in civil court, facing a six-count petition and a very angry guy who just wanted to turn left in peace.

We’re entertainers, not lawyers. But if we were jurors? We’d say: pay the man. And maybe invest in some noise-canceling headphones. For everyone’s sake.

Case Overview

$150,000 Demand Jury Trial Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Jared A. DeSilvey

Green Country Law Group

Relief Sought

$150,000 Monetary

$100,000 Punitive

Plaintiffs

Anthony Allen individual
Rep: Jared A. DeSilvey, OBA #17280, Green Country Law Group

Defendants

Sara June Asay individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	Negligence Per Se	Plaintiff was injured in a car collision caused by Defendant's failure to yield to Plaintiff at a red light.
2	Negligence	Plaintiff was injured in a car collision caused by Defendant's negligence.
3	Gross Negligence	Plaintiff was injured in a car collision caused by Defendant's gross negligence.
4	Recklessness	Plaintiff was injured in a car collision caused by Defendant's recklessness.
5	Property Damage	Plaintiff's vehicle was damaged in a car collision caused by Defendant.
6	Punitive Damages	Plaintiff seeks punitive damages for Defendant's egregious actions.

Petition Text

1,869 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA ANTHONY ALLEN Plaintiff, vs. SARA JUNE ASAY, Defendant. FILED DISTRICT COURT TULSA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA Case No.: CJ-2026- March 5, 2026 11:23 AM DON NEWBERRY, COURT CLERK Case Number CJ-2026-1019 PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, Anthony Allen, by and through his attorneys of record, Jared A. DeSilvey and Green Country Law Group, and for his cause of action against the Defendant, Sara Asay, alleges and states as follows: FACTUAL AND JURISDICTIONAL CLAIMS 1. At all relevant times, the Plaintiff was a resident of Henryetta, Okmulgee County, State of Oklahoma. The Defendant is a resident of Tulsa, Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma. The collision causing Plaintiff to suffer personal injury and damage to his property occurred in Tulsa, Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma. Jurisdiction is just and proper in this Court. 2. On or about March 13, 2024, Plaintiff Anthony Allen was lawfully operating his motor vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “Plaintiff’s vehicle”) on the off-ramp from East Highway 64/51. Plaintiff was stopped at a stop light, facing Southeast, with the intention of turning East on to East 31st Street. The traffic light governing Plaintiff’s travel turned green and Plaintiff attempted to lawfully proceed through the intersection. 3. Defendant was traveling West on East 31st Street, in the right lane. Defendant approached the intersection at issue as the traffic light governing her travel was red. 4. Defendant failed to yield the right of way to Plaintiff, as governed by the traffic light at issue. 5. Defendant's failure to yield the right of way resulted in the front right of her vehicle violently colliding in the driver’s side of the Plaintiff’s vehicle. 6. Upon impact, the Plaintiff’s vehicle was so violently struck by Defendant’s vehicle that Plaintiff’s head was forced into the window of the driver’s door; causing him to lose consciousness. 7. Defendant admitted to the investigating officer that the traffic light governing her travel was red at all relevant times and that she was inattentive to the road due to her listening to a telephone conversation which her passenger was having. Defendant was cited by the investigating officer for failure to stop at a red light. 8. Said motor vehicle collision caused Plaintiff to suffer severe injuries to his body and suffer damages to his property. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION – NEGLIGENCE PER SE 9. Plaintiff re-asserts and re-alleges all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 8. 10. By driving through a red light while being inattentive to the traffic control devices and failing to provide ordinary care to the other persons who were lawfully traveling on the roadways of Oklahoma, Defendant breach the duty she owed to all other lawful travelers on the roadways of Oklahoma. Defendant’s breach of that duty caused severe and permanent personal injuries to Plaintiff and caused damages to the Plaintiff’s property. 11. The Defendant was cited by the Tulsa Police Department for failing to stop at the stop light in question. Failure to obey an official traffic control device is a violation of 47 O.S. §11-201. 12. The Plaintiff is the class of persons (other citizens lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma) intended to be protected by 47 O.S. §11-201 and the severe injuries sustained by Plaintiff were the injuries intended to be prevented by 47 O.S. §11-201. 13. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s negligence, Plaintiff Anthony Allen has suffered serious bodily injuries, incurred and continues to incur medical expenses, endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering, has lost the enjoyment of life, lost income and earning capacity, and has suffered further damages, all of which will be more particularly proven at trial and which entitle Plaintiff Antony Allen to collect a sum in excess of $50,000.00 from the Defendant. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in excess of $50,000.00 from Defendant Sara June Asay on his First Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION – NEGLIGENCE 14. Plaintiff re-asserts and re-alleges all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 13. 15. As the driver of a vehicle utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, Defendant was required to operate her vehicle to a reasonable degree of care to ensure the safety of other persons lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, like Plaintiff Anthony Allen. 16. By ignoring the official traffic control device governing her travel at the intersection in question and violently colliding with the driver’s side of the Plaintiff’s vehicle, Defendant negligently breached of the duty of care owed to Plaintiff Anthony Allen. 17. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s negligence, Plaintiff Anthony Allen has suffered serious bodily injuries, incurred and continues to incur medical expenses, endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering, has lost the enjoyment of life, lost income and earning capacity, and has suffered further damages, all of which will be more particularly proven at trial and which entitle Plaintiff Anthony Allen to collect a sum in excess of $50,000.00 from the Defendant. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in excess of $50,000.00 from Defendant Sara June Asay on his Second Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION – GROSS NEGLIGENCE 18. Plaintiff re-asserts and re-alleges all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 17. 19. As the driver of a vehicle utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, Defendant was required to operate his vehicle to a reasonable degree of care to ensure the safety of other persons lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, like Plaintiffs. 20. By ignoring an official traffic control device and failing to yield the right away to Plaintiff, because she was, instead, focused on a telephone conversation that her passenger was having, and causing her vehicle to violently collide with the driver’s side of the Plaintiff’s vehicle, Defendant’s operation of her vehicle evinces a want of the slightest care and diligence and a breach of the duty of care owed to others who are lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, like Plaintiff Anthony Allen. 21. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s gross negligence, Plaintiff Anthony Allen has suffered serious bodily injuries, incurred and continues to incur medical expenses, endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering, has lost the enjoyment of life, lost income and earning capacity, and has suffered further damages, all of which will be more particularly proven at trial and which entitle Plaintiff Anthony Allen to collect a sum in excess of $50,000.00 from the Defendant. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in excess of $50,000.00 from Defendant Sara June Asay on his Third Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION – RECKLESSNESS 22. Plaintiff re-asserts and re-alleges all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 21. 23. As the driver of a vehicle utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, Defendant was required to operate her vehicle to a reasonable degree of care to ensure the safety of other persons lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, like Plaintiff Anthony Allen. 24. Defendant’s operation of her vehicle evinces a conscious disregard of an unreasonable and substantial risk of serious bodily harm to all other persons lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, like Plaintiff Anthony Allen. 25. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s recklessness, Plaintiff Anthony Allen has suffered serious bodily injuries, incurred and continues to incur medical expenses, endured and continues to endure both physical and mental pain and suffering, has lost the enjoyment of life, lost income and earning capacity, and has suffered further damages, all of which will be more particularly proven at trial and which entitle Plaintiff Anthony Allen to collect a sum in excess of $50,000.00 from the Defendant. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in excess of $50,000.00 from Defendant Sara June Asay on his Fourth Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION - PROPERTY DAMAGE 26. Plaintiff re-asserts and re-alleges all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 25. 27. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s negligence per se, negligence, gross negligence, and/or recklessness Defendant also caused extensive damage to the motor vehicle owned by Plaintiff Anthony Allen. Defendant is, therefore, responsible for compensating Plaintiff Anthony Allen for the damages to his motor vehicle, the loss of the use of his motor vehicle, and if it is judicially determined that the motor vehicle is not a total loss, the loss associated with the depreciation in value sustained to Plaintiff Anthony Allen’s motor vehicle as it existed after the collision, versus as it existed before the collision. All of the associated property damages will be more particularly proven at trial and entitle Plaintiff Anthony Allen to collect a sum in excess of $10,000.00 from Defendant for the damage to Plaintiff Anthony Allen’s property. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in excess of $10,000.00 from Defendant on his Fifth Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION – PUNITIVE DAMAGES 28. Plaintiffs re-assert and re-allege all averments contained in Paragraphs 1 - 27. 29. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s reckless and/or conscious disregard of an unreasonable and substantial risk of serious bodily harm to all other persons lawfully utilizing the roadways of the State of Oklahoma, the Plaintiff Anthony Allen suffered severe personal injuries. 30. Punitive damages should be awarded to Plaintiffs and against the Defendant for the sake of example and as punishment for Defendant’s egregious actions. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiff Anthony Allen prays that the Court award him damages in the amount of $100,000.00 from Defendant Sara June Asay on his Sixth Cause of Action, including attorney’s fees, costs, interest and any such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper. Plaintiff reserves the right to amend this Petition if additional facts supporting additional claims arise during discovery. Respectfully submitted this 23rd day of February, 2026. Jared A. DeSilvey, OBA #17280 Green Country Law Group 321 Court Street Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401 (918) 913-0195 - Telephone (918) 456-5561 - Facsimile [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiffs VERIFICATION STATE OF OKLAHOMA, COUNTY OF OKMULGEE. Anthony Allen, Plaintiff, being of lawful age and having been first duly sworn on oath, says that he has read and knows the contents of the within and foregoing Petition and that the statements therein made are true to the best of his information, knowledge, and belief. ________________________________________ ANTHONY ALLEN Subscribed and sworn to before me this 23rd day of February, 2026. HEATHER RATCLIFF ALLEN Notary Public - State of Oklahoma Commission Number 22011133 My Commission Expires Aug 15, 2026 (SEAL) Notary Public