When a family loses a child to violence, the criminal justice system and the civil justice system operate on separate tracks. A recent high-profile Los Angeles case is a difficult but important reminder of that reality. As personal injury attorneys, we often speak with families in California who are trying to understand what a civil wrongful death case looks like when a loved one has been taken from them under horrific circumstances. This article walks through the general legal landscape — not to comment on any specific pending matter, but to help California residents understand the rights that may be available to them.
What Happened
According to reports, the family of a 14-year-old Los Angeles-area girl has announced plans to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against a well-known musician who has been criminally charged in her death. Prosecutors have alleged that the young singer, who was reportedly the teen’s boyfriend, killed her in 2025 and that her remains were later discovered in a vehicle connected to him. He has reportedly pleaded not guilty and has been ordered to stand trial on a murder charge. According to the family’s attorney, a civil wrongful death complaint has been filed and is being processed by the court. The family has also publicly raised concerns about how the accused’s finances are being represented in the criminal proceedings.
These facts are drawn entirely from public reporting. Nothing in this article should be read as a statement of proven fault — the criminal case has not been tried, and the civil case is only just beginning.
Who May Be Liable
In a wrongful death case arising from an alleged homicide, the most obvious potential defendant is the individual accused of causing the death. In California, a person can be held civilly liable for a wrongful killing even if a criminal jury acquits, because civil cases use a lower burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt).
But in many wrongful death matters, the list of potentially responsible parties is broader than the accused alone. Depending on the facts, others who could be liable may include:
- Property owners or landlords whose premises may have provided the setting for the harm, if there was inadequate security or ignored warning signs.
- Employers or businesses who may have entrusted a dangerous individual with access to a victim, or who ignored known risks.
- Third parties who helped conceal assets — in cases where an alleged wrongdoer transfers money or property to family members, business entities, or managers to avoid a civil judgment, those transfers may be challenged as fraudulent under California’s Uniform Voidable Transactions Act.
- Anyone who aided, abetted, or covered up the alleged conduct.
Each of these theories is fact-specific and would need to be evaluated carefully by counsel.
Legal Theories That May Apply
Several civil claims commonly appear in cases of this nature:
- Wrongful death (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60): Allows certain surviving family members — typically a spouse, domestic partner, children, or, in the case of a minor, parents — to sue for the loss of their loved one.
- Survival action (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.30): A separate claim brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate for harms the decedent suffered before death, such as pre-death pain and terror.
- Assault and battery: Intentional torts that may support a civil claim independent of any criminal outcome.
- False imprisonment: Where a victim was allegedly confined against their will before the fatal act.
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress: May apply to family members in narrow circumstances, particularly where they witnessed or were forced to endure extreme, outrageous conduct.
- Sexual abuse of a minor: California law provides extended civil remedies for victims of childhood sexual abuse, and where a minor’s death is alleged to have followed such abuse, related claims may be brought by the estate.
- Fraudulent transfer claims: If assets were allegedly moved to shield them from a future judgment, a civil plaintiff may seek to unwind those transactions.
Damages Victims’ Families May Recover
When a wrongful death claim succeeds in California, the surviving family members may recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of the decedent’s financial support the family reasonably expected to receive
- Loss of household services the decedent would have provided
- Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, moral support, and guidance — the non-economic core of a wrongful death claim
- Pre-death pain and suffering through a survival action (California law was amended in recent years to allow recovery of the decedent’s pre-death pain and suffering in survival actions filed within specified windows)
- Punitive damages, where the conduct is alleged to have been malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent — these are commonly sought in intentional-killing cases through the survival action
California does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury or wrongful death cases outside of medical malpractice, meaning juries generally have significant discretion.
Evidence That Strengthens a Case
Civil cases like these are built with the same rigor as criminal ones, but with different tools. Evidence that can be critical includes:
- Police reports, autopsy findings, and the coroner’s file
- Transcripts and exhibits from any preliminary hearing or criminal trial
- Digital evidence — text messages, social media posts, DMs, cell-site data, and streaming platform records
- Surveillance footage from residences, businesses, or vehicles
- Financial records that may reveal asset transfers or hidden ownership structures
- Witness statements from friends, family, coworkers, or industry contacts
- Expert testimony (forensic pathology, digital forensics, forensic accounting, and economic loss experts)
Because civil discovery allows subpoenas of records that prosecutors may not have needed, a well-prepared civil team can sometimes uncover facts the criminal case never explored.
What to Do Next
If your family has lost a loved one under circumstances involving alleged violence, negligence, or intentional wrongdoing, there are steps you can take now to protect your rights:
- Preserve every piece of evidence in your control — phones, messages, photos, and documents. Do not delete anything, even if it feels painful to keep.
- Request and secure copies of the police report, autopsy report, and any court filings.
- Do not give recorded statements to insurance adjusters or opposing investigators without speaking to an attorney first.
- Be mindful of deadlines. California generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims, though survival actions and claims involving minors can involve different timing rules. Missing the deadline can bar the case entirely.
- Talk to a lawyer early. A civil case can move forward even while a criminal case is pending, and early investigation often preserves evidence that would otherwise disappear.
At Weber Law LLP, we understand that no lawsuit can undo what a family has lost. What civil litigation can do is provide financial stability, accountability, and a measure of answers. If you or a loved one has been harmed under circumstances like these, our team is available to talk. You can reach us at 844-844-0503 or through https://law.ninja for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my family file a wrongful death lawsuit if the criminal case hasn’t finished yet?
Yes. In California, a civil wrongful death lawsuit is separate from the criminal prosecution and can generally proceed on its own timeline. Sometimes civil courts pause discovery temporarily to avoid interfering with the criminal case, but the civil claim itself does not have to wait. An attorney can help you decide when to file.
What if the person accused of killing my loved one is found not guilty in the criminal case?
A criminal acquittal does not end the possibility of civil liability. Civil cases use a much lower burden of proof, so a defendant who is not convicted may still be held responsible in a civil wrongful death action. This is what happened in several nationally known cases.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in California?
California generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, related survival actions and claims involving minors, government defendants, or delayed discovery of key facts can shorten or shift that window. Because deadlines are strict, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Who is allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California?
California law generally allows the decedent’s spouse, domestic partner, and children to file. If there are no surviving children or spouse, other relatives who would be entitled to inherit may qualify, and the parents of a deceased minor typically have standing. An attorney can help identify who has the legal right to bring the claim in your specific family.
Can we recover money if the person responsible claims to be broke?
Possibly. California law allows civil plaintiffs to challenge transfers of money or property that were allegedly made to avoid a judgment, under the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act. Investigators and forensic accountants can trace assets held in the names of relatives, managers, or business entities. A judgment can also remain enforceable for many years, giving the family time to collect.
Are punitive damages available in a wrongful death case?
Under California law, punitive damages are generally not available on the wrongful death claim itself, but they may be pursued through a survival action on behalf of the decedent’s estate when the conduct is alleged to have been malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent. Intentional killings often support such a claim. An attorney can explain how these damages are structured.
What if a business, employer, or property owner played a role in the harm?
Third parties can sometimes be held liable when their conduct — such as inadequate security, negligent hiring, or ignoring known threats — contributed to a fatal incident. These claims are fact-intensive and depend on what the third party knew or should have known. A thorough investigation is essential to identify every potentially responsible party.
How much does it cost to hire a wrongful death attorney?
Most California personal injury and wrongful death attorneys, including Weber Law LLP, work on a contingency-fee basis. That means the family pays nothing up front, and the firm is paid only if there is a recovery. Initial consultations are typically free and confidential.
Original reporting: abc7.com.