Mark’s Soap Box

The mother of Emery Kauanui is suing the group of men who attacked and murdered her son.

Not sure if this is grief or just blatant greed.

SAN DIEGO – The mother of a professional surfer who was fatally beaten in La Jolla last year filed a lawsuit Tuesday against five young men involved in the fight, their parents, and the bar where some members of the group had been drinking.

Cynthia Kauanui accuses the men of wrongful death for beating or assisting in the beating of 24-year-old Emery Kauanui on May 24, 2007.

Quite frankly I see no need for this. Seems selfish beyond belief. It won’t change anything. The only chance I see of her collecting is from the bar, however it is unlikely they can be found liable. Just seems cynical, and disgusting.

In her suit, Kauanui contends that the young men’s parents are also at fault because they had a “duty” to control, discipline and supervise their children. She claims the parents of all but one of the men knew about their sons’ violent behavior as minors, which included getting drunk and starting fights, but failed to stop it.

Oh get real. Her son was just as out of control as the others. He is seen in several pics partying it up with the same men he got into the fight with. Beyond that, they are all past the age of consent.

The men named in the lawsuit are Seth Cravens, 22; Eric House, 21; Orlando Osuna, 23; Matthew Yanke, 22; and Henri “Hank” Hendricks, 22. They were all graduates of La Jolla High School and part of a group called the “Bird Rock Bandits.” They were arrested last year and charged with murder.

They are adults, that means their parents are no longer in charge of them. Even if they weren’t the government says that parents have no authority anymore anyway.

In the press release she says they are minors, yet they all are over the age of consent. It’s possible they were not of legal drinking age during when this happened.

“The Brew House has a reputation for serving minors,” McClellan said. “It’s somewhat of a hangout for La Jolla High School kids. They don’t check IDs.”

Oh well, “a reputation”  among whom we have no idea, but it must mean they are guilty. “[S]omewhat of a hangout”, how is anything somewhat of a hangout. This smacks of an ambulance chaser playing on a mother’s grief. It could be she is just a greedy ol’ bag. Will have to wait for more info to decide.

Other Coverage

• Mom sues — video
• Mom sues — ch 10 San Diego
• The Press Release — hmmm.

Previously on the Island

• Bird Rock Bandits Take Plea Deal
• Judge says they are not gangs
• Bird Rock Bandits in court accused of being a gang
• Bird Rock Bail Unchanged
• Bird-brain five prelim hearing
• College QB charged in surfer death
• Accused Surfer Murderer checks into Rehab

Tags: Seth Cravens, Eric House, Orlando Osuna, Matthew Yank, Henri Hendricks, hank hendricks, Emery Kauanui, bird rock bandits, la jolla, murder