WOODLAND HILLS : Teen-Ager’s Family Sues Over Drowning in River
The family of a Woodland Hills teen-ager who drowned one year ago in the storm-swollen Los Angeles River has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several government agencies.
The complaint by David and Marilyn Bischoff, parents of Adam Bischoff, and Carrie Bischoff, Adam’s sister, was filed Wednesday in Superior Court in Los Angeles. It names as defendants the city and county of Los Angeles, city fire and police departments, the state, the Department of Water and Power and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants--who operate and maintain the flood control channel--kept the channel in a dangerous condition, failed to post warning signs and made no preparations to rescue those swept into the water.
Adam Bischoff fell from his bicycle into an arroyo leading into the Los Angeles River during heavy rains last Feb. 12, floating past dozens of would-be rescuers who threw ropes and dangled from bridges in attempts to save him.
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