Second Lawsuit Filed in Teenager’s Death

Deanna Maran’s parents filed a wrongful death suit Wednesday against the owners of the Westside home where their daughter was fatally stabbed, as well as against the parents of the 17-year-old girl who authorities say killed her.

Among those named in the complaint were Shelley R. and Barbara H. Hendler, the owners of the Thayer Avenue house where Maran was slain at a Saturday night party last November attended by a few dozen young people, mostly minors. Katrina Sarkissian, the girl arrested in connection with Maran’s death, committed suicide.

Also named were Angelique Sarkissian Bernstein and Sarkis Sarkissian, the divorced parents of Sarkissian; Matthew Bernstein, Sarkissian’s stepfather; and her younger half-sister, whose scuffle with Maran triggered the stabbing.

The suit was filed in Santa Monica Superior Court by attorney Anthony Michael Glassman on behalf of Ilja and Harriet Maran, parents of the slain Santa Monica High School sophomore.

“This action arises from the tragic murder of 15-year-old Deanna Maran which occurred at an unsupervised party in Westwood,” the suit begins. “Deanna’s last words were ‘Please, let me tell my side of the story.’ [Her parents] bring this action to insure that Deanna’s side of the story is heard.”

The suit is the second legal action in the case. Last week, Katrina Sarkissian’s parents filed a wrongful death claim against Los Angeles police, alleging that the girl would have survived if detectives had not delayed seeking medical help after she collapsed while in their custody the day after the party. An autopsy showed that she had taken an overdose of antidepressant capsules.

A Long Beach attorney for the Hendlers said he plans to allow the plaintiffs to interview witnesses and then will ask the court to dismiss the suit.

“I don’t believe there is any evidence whatsoever that my clients were guilty of any sort of negligence or caused or contributed to this incident,” said Robert Armstrong, the attorney.

The Hendlers were out of town the night of the party, according to Armstrong. Their sons--Scott, a UC San Diego student, and his younger brother, a minor--were at home with a housekeeper.

According to the complaint, alcohol was served or readily available at the party, and many of those present were drinking.

The complaint alleges that the Hendlers failed to adequately supervise the activities of their children and to ensure that their home was used in a safe manner.

The suit further alleges that Angelique Sarkissian Bernstein, Matthew Bernstein and Sarkis Sarkissian failed to properly supervise Katrina Sarkissian despite “a history of emotional instability and violent behavior.”

The suit further claims that Katrina’s younger half-sister conspired with Katrina to dispose of the murder weapon, which authorities have said was probably a knife. No weapon was found.

Bernstein, a Los Angeles ophthalmologist, said he was not surprised that the Marans’ attorney would sue him along with Katrina’s parents.

“He thinks I’m a rich doctor, but he’ll find out I’m a poor doctor,” he said. Bernstein added that he is in bankruptcy proceedings because he has spent more than $500,000 on legal fees in connection with his divorce from Angelique Sarkissian Bernstein.

Gary Casselman, a lawyer for Angelique Bernstein and Sarkis Sarkissian, a wealthy real estate investor, said: “This is certainly a tragedy all the way around, but many of the allegations are inaccurate and poorly researched.”

The suit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages.