Family of Youth Who Drowned in River Files Wrongful Death Suit : Courts: The Bischoffs’ action in the death of their son a year ago names local, state and federal agencies.

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 U.S. 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 while riding his bicyle, and was swept into an arroyo leading to the Los Angeles River during heavy rains Feb. 12, 1992, floating past dozens of would-be rescuers who threw ropes and dangled from bridges in futile attempts to save him. Currents moving 35 m.p.h. swept the 15-year-old El Camino High School student 10 miles before he disappeared underwater just west of Balboa Boulevard in Encino. His body was found the next day.

The Bischoffs filed wrongful death claims with the defendants in August. All of the claims were denied.

The lawsuit states that the family seeks unspecified general and punitive damages as well as funeral costs.

Representatives of the defendants declined to comment, saying they have not yet seen the complaint. The Bischoffs and their attorney, Thomas V. Girardi, did not return phone calls.

The lawsuit says that the flood-control channel was in a dangerous condition because there was no separation between the channel and the path where Adam Bischoff rode his bicycle, and access to the channel was not barred by a fence or other barrier. The sides of the channel weren’t properly graded, it alleges, so once the boy fell off his bike he was immediately swept into the current.

The complaint also contends that the defendants had no rescue plan in place, even though they knew that such emergencies were likely.

In response to Bischoff’s death, newly formed city and county task forces have adopted coordinated emergency procedures, trained personnel in swift-water rescues and purchased standardized rescue equipment. Earlier this week, an education program was unveiled to teach students throughout the county about the hazards of flood-control channels.