Gun Seller, Hospital Sued in Suicide : Parents Blame Psychiatric Facility, Store After Son Kills Himself

A Los Angeles couple have filed suit against a sporting-goods store and a Van Nuys psychiatric hospital, alleging that they contributed to the suicide of their son--in the store’s case by selling him a rifle.

Ira and Jeanne Jacoves charge that Van Nuys Hospital and one of its physicians negligently discharged their depressed son 11 days before his suicide.

Their suit also seeks unspecified damages against the Big 5 Sporting Goods chain and its parent company, Thrifty Corp., for allegedly selling Jonathon Jacoves the weapon with which he killed himself on April 22, 1985. The suit does not give the location of the store in question or the victim’s age.

Similar to Northridge Claim

The claim against the store is similar to one filed against a Northridge gun shop in 1983 by the parents of Tara Ann Katona, 22, who killed herself a day after buying a pistol there. In an out-of-court settlement last month, National Gun Sales Inc. agreed to pay the Katonas $175,000.

The Jacoves’ suit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, says that, after an unsuccessful suicide attempt with a drug overdose in March, 1985, Jonathon Jacoves was admitted to Van Nuys Hospital, where he was diagnosed as suffering from depression and suicidal tendencies.

After agreeing to promise his parents that he would not harm himself, Jonathan was discharged on April 11, according to the lawsuit. But the Jacoveses allege that their son’s physician, Dr. Lee Bloom, knew that Jonathon might not be able to honor his promise.

On the morning of his discharge, Jonathon told a hospital aide that he hoped he meant his promise, but that he “doubted it,” the complaint alleges. The suit says that neither the aide nor Bloom told the Jacoveses of Jonathon’s doubts, even though their son’s remarks were recorded on his hospital chart.

Clerks’ Negligence Charged

Less than two weeks after his release, Jonathon bought a .22-caliber rifle from a Big 5 Sporting Goods store and killed himself, the complaint says. The suit says that store employees should not have sold him the rifle because he was disheveled, distraught and trembling when he made the purchase. The Jacoveses also allege that store employees knew that Jonathon was the same man who had earlier in the day attempted to buy a handgun but left abruptly when he learned he had to complete several forms.

In the Katona case, which was regarded as a novel attempt to hold a gun shop liable in a suicide, the parents said they had telephoned the gun store to plead that it not do business with their daughter.

Citing the pending litigation, Bloom would not comment on the Jacoveses’ complaint Monday, saying “the details are painful for everyone.” Hospital officials could not be reached for comment.

A Thrifty Corp. spokeswoman said the company would not comment because it has not been served with the complaint yet. The Jacoveses’ attorney said the couple also had no comment.