Edina Couple Named in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Two prominent Edina residents have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit for a hit-and-run incident involving a Roseville man late last month.

The family of Anousone Phanthavong is seeking more than $50,000 in damages in connection with the Thai chef's death on Aug. 23. The lawsuit—filed in Hennepin County District Court today—names former Vikings football player Joe Senser, the owner of the car, and his wife Amy, the admitted driver of the vehicle, as defendants. 

On Friday, Sept. 2, Amy Senser's attorney faxed a one-sentence statement to the Minnesota State Patrol finally admitting that she was the driver of the Mercedes SUV, owned by her husband, which struck and killed Phanthavong, according to the law firm representing the deceased's family.

"This lawsuit provides us with a vehicle to obtain information that the Senser family refuses to disclose," Jim Schwebel, a Minneapolis attorney representing the Phanthavong family, said in a statement. 

"We are interested in learning why Amy Senser fled the scene, whether there was any alcohol involved, whether she was was alone in the vehicle and why she was taking the Riverside exit (in Minneapolis)."

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.