Parents sue boy [and league, parents,school district,city] in bat killing

http://www.avpress.com/n/23/1223_s2.hts ^ | December 23, 2005 | BOB WILSON

[BenLurkin]

PALMDALE - The parents of a teenage boy killed after a Pony League baseball game are suing the league, the city, the high school district, the teenage killer and his parents. Palmdale Pony League Youth Baseball Inc.; Palmdale Pony League Inc.; the city of Palmdale; the Antelope Valley Union High School District; the convicted killer, Greg Harris Jr.; and Greg Harris and Gigi Harris, his parents, were named as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed Dec. 14 by Brian and Angela Rourke, the parents of victim Jeremy Rourke.

Rourke, 15, died about two hours after being struck in the head with an aluminum baseball bat by Greg Harris Jr. on April 12.

On July 8, Harris was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to confinement by the California Youth Authority until age 25. Harris' parents have retained the Reddock Law group of Los Angeles to represent their son in an appeal of his criminal conviction.

On Thursday, a representative of the Reddock Law group confirmed that it would represent the Harrises against the Rourke's lawsuit but said no formal notice of such a suit had been delivered.

A representative of the city of Palmdale also said no formal notice had been received of the lawsuit's filing.

Andrew Bryman, attorney for plaintiffs Brian and Angela Rourke, said Harris was responsible for swinging the bat, but other parties may be responsible for failing to provide proper supervision during and after the game.

Naming all potentially responsible parties will help determine who did and did not have supervisory responsibility, Bryman said.

"Anybody who potentially has ownership, maintenance or control of that property is a potential party," and any governmental entities that might be involved must be given notice within six months if damages are to be recoverable, he said.

[BenLurkin]

"On July 8, Harris was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to confinement by the California Youth Authority until age 25."

Now I may not be a smart as this PLAINTIFF LAWYER but it sounds to me like the "responsible party" has already been identified beyond any reasonable doubt.

[indcons]

This newspaper needs a new writer.

[Jaded]

They left out the State of California.

[wideawake]

In many jurisdictions parents are held civilly liable for damages caused by their minor children.

If somebody's kid wrecks my car, I expect his parents or his parents' insurance company to recompense me, for example.

[ClearCase_guy]

Reminds me of the Phil Hartman skit on SNL: "What do I know? I'm just a caveman who was found frozen in a block of ice, thawed out and went to Law School. Your modern ways frighten me! I don't understand your world! But, even an unfrozen caveman lawyer like myself, can see that when a young man is killed at a Little League Game, his family is entitled to restitution both for punitive damages and compensatory damages. Surely if a caveman can see this, the members of the jury can see it too. I rest my case."

[BenLurkin]

Oh well these people () may be able to twist money out of the other defendants as well under other recognized grounds for finding civil liability.

[Frank_2001]

How about the manufacturer of the bat? If they did not make those bats so freakin' HARD, this might never have happened! And if the bat was made in China, sue the Chinese as well!/s

[wideawake]

Yup. I don't agree with the suing of the league, the school and the town - but the killers' folks are a legitimate target.

[BenLurkin]

Just because the survivors can milk the system for money doesn't mean they should -- and frankly way too many times defendants end up paying on suits where the responsible party (such as an assailant or reckless driver) was in fact the only party responsible.

All it takes is the classic miscarriage of justice trifecta: A greedy lawyer, a pusillanimous judge and a gullible jury. It happens all too often.

[RouxStir]

"Parents Sue Boy In Bat Killing"???

I thought the kid had killed their pet bat.

[conservativewasp]

"but the killers' folks are a legitimate target"

I'm pretty sure they are covered by their home owners insurance, assuming they have it. Then again if some wacko jury awards 10 million they are screwed.

[wideawake]

Homeowners covers them for a killing that took place on public land?

[Logophile]

On July 8, Harris was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to confinement by the California Youth Authority until age 25. Harris' parents have retained the Reddock Law group of Los Angeles to represent their son in an appeal of his criminal conviction.

If your son had murdered another boy, would you appeal his conviction?

[mobyss]

Yeah, Hartman was great. Murdered by his wife.

"Hi, I'm Troy McClure - you may rember me from such films as..."

[Krankor]

"We're alleging … something could have been done during the sequence of events on the day in question" to prevent the death of Jeremy Rourke, Bryman said. "Unfortunately, the way that these matters work is people don't make changes until events occur that tell them that they need to make changes," he said.

Well, they could eliminate bats.

[bert]

The lawyer is seeking unjust enrichment.

I wonder how long he pleaded with the mother to maker crack and then sue?