Surfer's Mom Sues Bird Rock Bandits, Parents
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 | Updated 5:27 PM EDT
Emery Kauanui in the hospital after being beaten
The mother of professional surfer Emery Kauanui filed a civil suit Tuesday against five men accused of beating him to death and their parents.
The wrongful death suit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges that Seth Cravens, Orlando Osuna, Matthew Yanke, Eric House, Henri Hendricks and the parents of the five boys are responsible for the Kauanui's death.
Attorneys for Cindy Kauanui allege in the suit that the parents failed to respond to signs that their children had turned to violence.
“These kids would go out on weekends to find people to brutalize. Despite complaints to their parents, juvenile arrests, and blood on their children's hands, their parents did nothing,” said Craig McClellan of The McClellan Law Firm.
The suit does not ask for a specific damage amount.
The civil suit also names Barkandbrew Inc., the company that owns the La Jolla Brewhouse. Kauanui and House got into an argument there hours before the beating. The suit alleges that the Brewhouse served alcohol to the young men even though they were intoxicated. Two of them were under the legal drinking age at the time.
The group of five men called themselves the "Bird Rock Bandits." All graduated from La Jolla High School. One of them, Seth Cravens, will go to trial on murder and other charges. The others accepted plea deals for their involvement in the death of Emery Kauanui, 24.
