Drunk driver suing the person he killed

Mountains from mole-hills.  The Driver (the convicted drunk driver that is) could merely be anticipating a suit from the family and is filing a claim ahead of time.  Not standard practice, but if there is some fault on the part of the victim he definitely has a case to make.  For instance, if the victims had been in the wrong lane they might be found say 30% responsible for the accident, reducing the damages (compensation) the driver would have to pay under a suit from the family.  This division isn't really a factor in the criminal courts, but for the above reasons influence the civil courts.  

Long story short - the newspaper is just sensationalizing something that isn't that big of a deal.  The drunk driver isn't going to be acquitted of his criminal charges, and given the facts we have also won't be getting any money from the family.  I suspect he's just trying to limit any possible pay outs.

my middle name is "knee-jerk".  im all for capital punishment on the spot, immediately after the crime is commited.  im also for the systematic sterilization of large numbers of teenagers as a means of population control.  i am a little extreme in my opinions...
 
 
however, i can see the flip side, a little.  if the drunk driver was going thru an intersection, and had the green light, and a sober driver ran the red light and t-boned the DUI driver, then he should have the right to sue.