Mother Files Suit Over Death of Boy Killed by Park Bench
The mother of an 8-year-old boy killed when a concrete park bench toppled on him has filed a lawsuit against the city of Laguna Niguel and a recreation district.
The suit in Orange County Superior Court alleges the same negligence charges as those in an earlier claim for damages filed with the city. That claim was rejected this week by Laguna Niguel, according to the lawsuit, thus freeing the plaintiffs to pursue other legal action.
The boy’s mother, Tracy Lynn Ferris, alleges that the bench, which weighed 800 pounds, was dangerous and that the city and the Laguna Niguel Community Service District knew or should have known of the danger.
Also named in the lawsuit is Shea Homes, which installed the bench in Chapparosa Park, and the YMCA of Orange County, which was supervising Ferris’ son, Tony Ross Ferris, on a field trip the day he was killed three months ago.
No dollar amount was specified, but the suit seeks payment for medical, funeral and burial expenses and “damages to compensate for loss of love, companionship, comfort and affection.”
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