‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ventura County over the tragic drowning accident of the television star.
In the lawsuit, obtained by The Blast, Dorsey filed the complaint on behalf of his son Josey, who was with Naya the day of the drowning at Lake Piru. He claims Naya had strong swimming skills and exceptional fitness at age 33, and her drowning was “utterly preventable”.
The tragic accident reportedly happened after Naya and Josey jumped off for a swim, and the boat started to be carried away and ultimately leading to Naya not being able to climb back on the boat.
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In the lawsuit, Dorsey claims Naya rented a pontoon boat at Lake Piru but says it was “not equipped with a safely accessible ladder, adequate rope, an anchor, a radio, or any security mechanisms to prevent swimmers from being separated from their boats”.
He continued, “disturbingly, later inspection revealed that the boat was not even equipped with any flotation or lifesaving devices, in direct violation of California law, which requires all pontoons longer than 16 feet be equipped with flotation devices.”
Dorsey claims the pontoon boat that Naya rented was one of the older rental boats available that day, had not been refurbished, and displayed signage inaccurately claiming that the boat complied with U.S. Coast Guard safety standards, such as a life preserver.
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Naya’s ex-husband points out there was “no sign warning of the lake’s strong currents, low visibility, high winds, changing water depts, underwater caves, ledges, and drop-offs, or the trees, brush, and other debris that congest its waters due to vastly changing water levels and winds.”
Plus, he alleges the mother and son got no warning about the dangers of boating on this lake, including wearing a life jacket while swimming.
According to reports, at least 26 other people, from children to fit adults to elders, some wearing life jackets and others not, have drowned in Lake Piru since its recreational facilities opened.
Dorsey claims the lake staff rented Naya a boat “with no anchor or drift prevention mechanisms when winds were gusting up to 21 miles per hour on the lake”.
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Naya’s death has officially ruled a drowning, and the manner of death was said to be an ‘accident.’ Naya’s body was found 5 days after her disappearance.
In the lawsuit, Ryan Dorsey is filing on behalf of the couple’s young son and claims he has“suffered substantial economic and non-economic damages as a result of Naya’s death, including financial support that Naya would have contributed to Josey, her only child.”
Also, he is suing for funeral and burial expenses, the reasonable value of household services that Naya would have provided. Josey’s non-economic damages include the “loss of Naya’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, moral support, and loss of Naya’s training and guidance as his mother”.
The County of Ventura has yet to respond to the lawsuit.