Ryan Dorsey has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Naya Rivera’s son, claiming the boat Naya was in before she drowned was not safe.
Dorsey, Naya’s ex-husband filed the documents on Tuesday on behalf of his 5-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey, claiming Ventura County is responsible for her death because the boat Naya and Josey were on in Lake Piru did not comply with safety standards.
Ryan claims the boat 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, nor any flotation or life saving devices” in violation of California law, according to documents filed by Ryan’s attorney, Amjad Khan.
Dorsay claims the boat drifted away from Naya and Josey when they jumped into the lake for a swim and proper safety equipment could have prevented that.
The suit claims the boat was “rocking back and forth forcefully in the current and wind”.
Dorsey also claims in the suit there were no signs warning of the dangerous conditions of the lake and the person who rented the boat to Naya didn’t warn her to wear the life vest that came with the boat.
The actress and her son were reported missing on July 8.
Her body was found in the lake on July 13.
Josey was able to get back in the boat, and when authorities arrived for a check he told them he and his mum were swimming and he didn’t know what happened to her.
She had disappeared below the surface.
According to the lawsuit 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.
It should be noted, 43 days after Naya went missing the man-made reservoir reopened to the public, and one month after more than 12,000 people signed a petition demanding more effective warnings to swimmers about debris under the water’s surface.
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