Andrew Pollack, the father of Parkland shooting victim Meadow Pollack, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several people and entities he believes are responsible for the death of his daughter. In the lawsuit, which is the second to be filed by parents of the Parkland victims, Pollack names:
- Scot Peterson, the former school resource officer who was stationed at the Parkland school on the day of the mass shooting in February. Peterson has been labeled a “coward” by Mr. Pollack, due to his failure to enter the school and tackle the shooter.
- Nikolas Cruz and the estate of his late mother, Lynda Cruz. The estate is considered responsible as, according to Mr. Pollack, Cruz’s mother should have known that her son was mentally unwell, and should have gotten him the treatment he required to prevent him from posing a threat to others.
- James and Kimberley Snead, who Cruz lived with from the time of his mother’s death in November until the shooting, as they allowed Cruz to keep his guns in their home.
- Three mental health institutions, namely, Henderson Behavioral Health, Jerome Golden Center for Behavioral Health, and South County Mental Health Center. These three institutes have been named as they either knew or should have known that Cruz was a danger to others, and should have diagnosed and treated him accordingly.
Mr. Pollack has stated that he has not filed the lawsuit for the money, and does not intend to keep any damages recovered. Rather, he is seeking awareness and confirmation of responsibility.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits – What You Should Know
Under California law, which is applicable in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, a wrongful death suit may be filed by an eligible surviving relative where:
- The death occurred due to a mistake made by another person, or due to their negligence or inattention
- The dependent filing the lawsuit has suffered economic and non-economic losses as a result of the death
When you instruct a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney to handle your lawsuit, they may seek several types of damages on your behalf, including:
- Medical bills incurred between the time your loved one was injured, and their time of death
- Funeral expenses
- Compensatory financial damages, relating to the loss of the wages your loved one could have been expected to earn in the future
- Compensatory emotional damages, relating to the loss of guidance, companionship, and support from your deceased loved one, as well as the pain and suffering inflicted on you and your family
- Punitive damages, or the amount charged as a punishment to the person or entity responsible for your loved one’s death
While some of these damages are quantifiable, it can be incredibly difficult to put a monetary value on losses such as your emotional loss, and the punitive damages which are appropriate in your case. This is why you should not attempt to file a Los Angeles wrongful death lawsuit without an esteemed and experienced attorney by your side.
To discuss your case with an expert Los Angeles wrongful death attorney, schedule your free initial consultation by calling us today at 818-610-8800.
