The Baltimore Sun has reported that a family, disgusted by the leniency that will be given to the man allegedly responsible for the death of their 22 year-old son, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
The suit is filed against W.B., 21, and is asking for $5 million in damages.
Pasadena resident W.B. allegedly caused the drowning death of A.G. when he pushed A.G. into the Inner Harbor three years ago.
W.B. has been convicted is now facing his sentencing. He is expected to be given four years in prison as part of his plea agreement.
He was originally charged with first-degree murder.
Prosecutors downgraded the charge to second-degree murder and, on July 28, W.B. pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
The punishment will be handed down by Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock.
Involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty maximum of 10 years in prison.
There were no leads until a tipster told police that W.B. had pushed A.G. into the harbor. Once confronted by police, W.B. confessed.
The attorney representing A.G.'s family, Steven D. Silverman, said, "The family's obviously devastated, and they are dissatisfied with the anticipated sentence and want to take further action. When a family loses a child, it's never about the money. What this is about is achieving some sense of justice, and this family doesn't feel like justice has been served to date."
Silverman is bringing the case with associate Craig L. Zissel.
Prosecutors stated in court that in 2008 A.G. had joined a group of friends in a driving trip from New York to Montgomery County. On the way, they made a decision to stop over in Baltimore, and stretch before continuing on their journey.
W.B. walked over to A.G., who had wandered off by himself, and asked him for a cigarette. Then W.B. pushed him into the dark harbor water.
A.G. did not know how to swim.
Howard Cardin, W.B.'s defense attorney, was unavailable for comment. He had previously claimed that W.B. - overwhelmed by guilty feelings since the accident occurred - confided to a friend what had happened.
It was that friend that notified the police.
Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock allegedly lowered the ten year sentence to a four year one based on sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors had pushed for the 10 year sentence, per a July statement made by a spokesman for the Baltimore state's attorney's office.
A.G.'s family said that they were frustrated by the sentence handed down at the plea hearing.
A.G. was an only child, lived at home with his parents in Montgomery County since the family had moved to Baltimore from India ten years ago. A.G.'s parents depended on him for care - which included delivering medication to his father who is disabled.
He had told his mother that he dreamed of working for NASA as an engineer when he finished school - he was studying engineering at the University of Maryland.
Friends spoke of him being bright, selfless and hardworking.
In requesting a stronger sentence imposed on W.B., A.G.'s mother had a prepared statement read to the courts: "This man must learn from his mistakes. He has broken up a family who has nothing left in America. He killed our American dream and our son."
Have you considered that one lost trial doesn't have to be the end of the road? If you have a case of wrongful death contact a wrongful death attorney for help.