Ryan Dorsey Files Lawsuit On Behalf Of Son After Naya Rivera’s Passing

Published on November 19, 2020.

Naya Rivera’s ex Ryan Dorsey has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their 5-year-old son, Josey.

In the official lawsuit documents, Josey is suing Ventura County, California, United Water Conservation District, and Ventura County’s Parks and Recreation Management for “wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress.” Naya passed tragically in July after being pronounced missing following a boating excursion with her son.

The lawsuit continues by arguing that the death was preventable that the boat that Naya and Josey were in did not comply with Coast Guard 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,” the court documents claim.

“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 that all pontoons longer than 16 feet be equipped with flotation devices.”

The lawsuit also claims that Lake Piru, where they were boating, did not have any signs warning of the lake’s “strong currents, low visibility, high winds, changing water depths, underwater caves, ledges and drop offs, or the trees, brush and other debris that congest its waters due to the vastly changing water levels and winds.”

In a statement from Amjad M. Khan, Partner at Brown, Neri, Smith & Khan LLP, they noted: “The lawsuit, investigation of which is ongoing, seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their negligence in causing Naya’s death and in causing Josey, who witnessed Naya’s drowning, to suffer serious emotional distress. Naya’s family and Josey’s father, Naya’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, have expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from Naya’s many fans, and have requested that the public respect their privacy as they continue to grieve Naya’s loss.”