Civil Rights Suit Filed Against Juveniles
A Laguna Niguel family has filed a civil rights lawsuit against three youngsters accused of vandalizing the family’s home during a hate crime last July.
The lawsuit also names one of the children’s parents, who pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the incident.
Police said the children--two girls, then 12, and one 13-year-old boy--allegedly confessed to covering a family’s car with food and tampons and installing a white cross made of toilet paper above the family’s front gate.
According to the lawsuit, a misspelled racial epithet was painted in chocolate syrup on the family’s garage door.
The attack was the third one in close succession on the townhouse where Reginald Burgess, who is African American, and Carol Folk, who is white, live with Burgess’ two children.
The three juveniles, neighbors of Burgess and Folk, were arrested at the time of the incident.
The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations, invasion of privacy, negligent supervision of minors and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit seeks general and punitive damages, as well as penalties amounting to $25,000 per family member provided for under a hate crime law.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
