Ryan Dorsey, the ex-husband of Naya Rivera, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the couple’s 5-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey.
In the court documents filed by Ryan’s attorney Amjad Khan on Tuesday, it is being claimed that Ventura County is responsible for Rivera’s drowning death back in July. Ryan believes the boat that Rivera and their son were traveling on in Lake Piru did not meet safety standards. 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.” The lawsuit states that Rivera’s life would have been saved on the boat had these essential components been on the boat. In addition, there were no signs nearby the lake that warned of its dangerous conditions. The suit highlighted this when pointing out that at least 26 other people, “from children to fit adults to elders,” have drowned in Lake Piru since the opening of its recreational facilities. Ryan believes that the person who rented Rivera the boat failed her by not warning her to wear the life vest.
California boating law states that all boats 16 feet or more in length, with the exception of canoes and kayaks, must have one life jacket readily available for each person on board and at least one throwable device in every boat.
Rivera was found dead in Lake Piru on July 13th after being reported missing along with her son on July 8th. Josey was able to climb back onto the boat. When authorities located the child, he told them that he and his mom had gone swimming in the water but that at some point, she’d gone underwater and failed to resurface.
Ventura County has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
