The Courthouse News Service has reported that the parents of a young woman that was murdered by her boyfriend, are suing Alcoholics Anonymous and others in a wrongful death lawsuit for concealing his sociopathic and violent history.
K.B. was strangled to death on August 31, 2011 by her then-boyfriend, A.E., when she had asked him to move out of her Santa Clarita condo.
After the murder A.E. allegedly slept next to K.B. and reported her to police the next morning claiming that he discovered her unresponsive.
According to K.B.'s parents, H.M. and J.M., A.E. had beaten their daughter in the past and had subsequently served jail time. K.B. was convinced to bail A.E. out of jail by his friends, P.F. and J.F. Then K.B. dropped the charges against A.E. According to reporters authorities were unable to prosecute A.E.
The suit alleges that P.F. and J.F. conspired to "aid and assist (A.E.) in financially and physically abusing" and eventually "murdering" K.B.
Attorneys that represented A.E., as well as officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, are named in the suit for their knowledge of A.E.'s violent past. Had K.B. been given the information, according to K.B.'s parents, it could have prevented her death.
K.B.'s autopsy recorded over 30 cuts and bruises to her body, supporting the complaint that suggests she "suffered horribly" prior to her death.
The suit alleges that P.F. and A.E. may have served time together and that P.F. was also A.E.'s sponsor in the AA program.
The suit further alleges that P.F. sponsored K.B. at AA as well. According to the suit P.F. "immediately violated the few rules AA has by serving as a 'sponsor' for a female, (K.B.) He also violated an AA rule by meeting at the same time with both (A.E.) and (K.B.) right at the time that (A.E.) had severely beaten (K.B.) and had been arrested for possible domestic violence."
In its allegations against AA, the suit states that the organization has a "reckless disregard for, and deliberate indifference ... to the safety and security of victims attending AA meetings who are repeatedly preyed on at these meetings by financial, violent, and sexual predators like (A.E.)"
The suit continues by stating that AA meetings "are repeatedly used by financial, sexual, and violent predators as a means to locate victims" and there are no "specific policies and guidelines concerning conduct of so-called 'sponsors.'"
The defendants named in the suit include A.E., P.F. and J.F., the Santa Clarita Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, the County of Los Angeles, four detectives and others.
According to the family's attorney, Patricia Barry, damages are sought for wrongful death, conversion of money and property, professional negligence, violation of equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment, Monell violation, and Bane Act violation.
If you believe that you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party contact a personal injury lawyer to file your lawsuit. A judge or jury may hand down a monetary award to help with funeral, and other, expenses.