Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
The suit also claimed that their rental boat was illegally underequipped in terms of safety.
Ryan Dorseyfiled this lawsuit in the Superior Court of Ventura County for their then-4-year-old son, Josey Hollis Dorsey.
The civil complaint names Ventura County and the areas water management district as defendants.
Rivera went missing on July 8 after setting out on a boating trip in Lake Piru with her son.
Her body was found five days later.
The search for Rivera wasimpairedbecause of dangerous, low-visibility water conditions.
Josey, who was closer to their boat, managed to get back and braced himself on the vessel.
Josey knew Naya was still in the water, and heard her cry, Help!
in her struggle to get back to the boat and avoid drowning, the lawsuit alleged.
Josey searched in vain for rope to help his mother get back on the boat.
Josey then looked back at the water for his mother, and saw that Naya had disappeared.
The lawsuit contended that Lake Pirus management dropped the ball in warning people about its dangers.
(The suit notes that Rivera politely declined, as the vest was optional.)
Defendants negligence was a substantial factor in causing Nayas death.
The suit also claimed that at least 26 other people have drowned in Lake Piru.
