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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Metro crime scene investigators, officers and detectives mill about the entrance of the Costco store in Summerlin after the shooting July 10, 2010.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 | 7:21 p.m.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
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KSNV coverage of wrongful death lawsuit in fatal Metro shooting at Summerlin Costco, June 1, 2011.
Sun archives
- Former Metro officer involved in Costco shooting pleads not guilty to gun charge (5-26-11)
- Officer involved in Erik Scott shooting indicted on weapons charge (1-31-11)
- Metro officer tied to Costco shooting faces felony weapons charge (1-31-11)
- Erik Scott family drops Costco from federal lawsuit (1-20-11)
- Erik Scott family buys 4 billboard ads seeking Costco video (10-28-10)
- Police officers found justified in Erik Scott shooting; family plans lawsuit (9-28-10)
- Detective: Erik Scott had pain medicines from several doctors (9-27-10)
- Witnesses give conflicting accounts of Costco police shooting (9-25-10)
- Shoppers recount police shooting outside Costco (9-24-2010)
- Officer in Costco shooting says man raised gun, didn't know it was in holster (9-23-2010)
A federal judge said he’ll issue a written order in “a few days” that will determine the course of a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Costco shooting victim Erik Scott against Metro Police and Clark County.
It’s a virtual certainty the lawsuit will proceed into the discovery phase before leading to trial. The issues in today’s hearing before U.S. District Judge Edward Reed Jr. at the George Federal Courthouse were whether the county and Sheriff Doug Gillespie should remain as defendants and whether the scope of claims for damages sought by Scott’s family should be narrowed.
After the hearing, Scott’s father, William Scott said: “I’m smart enough to know there’s no certainty in a courtroom. I’m hopeful it will proceed forward.”
Scott, a 38-year-old medical-device salesman, was shot and killed by police outside the Costco store in Summerlin on a busy Saturday in July after they reportedly responded to a 911 call of a man with a gun destroying merchandise inside the store. A coroner’s inquest, siding with police testimony that Scott posed an imminent threat as he left the store, found that the shooting was justified.
Scott’s parents, William and Linda Scott, and brother Kevin Scott sued in October, alleging that the shooting wasn’t justified. The family alleged that Officers William Mosher, Joshua Stark and Thomas Mendiola, who are also defendants in the lawsuit, “engaged in an unreasonable seizure, using excessive and lethal force” against Scott that deprived him of his liberty and life in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
The family argues Scott wasn’t engaged in disorderly conduct and didn’t pose a threat to anyone.
The lawsuit also accused Gillespie and the county of failing to adequately train, supervise or discipline its police officers “concerning unreasonable seizures and the use of excessive force.”
Metro conceded in a November motion and at today’s hearing through Las Vegas attorney Joshua Benson that the family has legal standing to proceed with its lawsuit based on allegations of excessive force under federal law and wrongful death under state law.
But Metro argued Kevin Scott has no standing to sue because he isn’t his brother’s heir or the administrator of his estate. Metro urged dismissal of all claims against Gillespie, and dismissal of allegations tied to what it said was the family’s attempt to collect not only wrongful death damages but damages for “survival claims.”
Benson argued survival claims shouldn’t be reserved for someone who dies as the result of alleged wrongdoing. But family attorney Ross Goodman said the lawsuit is seeking only wrongful death damages and that accusations of negligent training and supervision of officers, as well as allegations of assault, battery and emotional distress inflicted on Scott, are necessary to help prove theories of Scott’s wrongful death.
The county, through Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Barker, argued to be dismissed from the case because Metro is an independent legal entity that adopts its own policies, procedures and rules. Barker told the judge that under state law the county isn’t liable for Metro’s conduct.
Costco and one of its security officers, Shai Lierly, were originally named as defendants in the lawsuit but the family later dropped them from the case. Goodman of Las Vegas has said his clients still hold the right to sue Costco in state court within a two-year statute of limitations.
Goodman told Reed the family also voluntarily agreed to drop Kevin Scott as a plaintiff. But Goodman argued the county and Gillespie should remain as defendants.
Goodman said the county has a connection to Metro by sitting on a fiscal affairs committee that helps determine the police budget and by having one of its appointed department heads, the coroner, conduct inquests into police-involved shootings.
But Barker said state law clearly says the county has no say over Metro policy. She also questioned Goodman’s logic that the county is liable because it sits on the fiscal affairs committee. She reminded the judge Las Vegas also sits on that committee, and the shooting occurred within city limits, but the city wasn’t named as a defendant.
Sheriff Doug Gillespie is as corrupt as the Las Vegas Police Department. I know for a fact that LVMPD has lied to a Grand Jury just to get an inditment. When someone testifies in front of a Grand Jury they take an oath to tell the truth.
The only one that can hold them accountable is the Judge. This whole city is corrupt!!!!
Gillespie should be held accountable for the action of his officers. After all he went on TV and sworn that one of them wasn't speeding and the city had to payout thousands of dollars. The county should get it's own police force.
Truth be told, that day, Mr. Scott was shot and killed, was a calamity of errors. Although, Metro made none of them. Mr.Scott brought everyone of those errors on himself, along with his so called girlfriend. If you were fortunate enough to see the Cornors Inquest, then you know what I mean. I am a taxpayer along with most people reading this article. I say, if Metro is found innocent, then we the taxpayer should be reimbursed from the Scott's and their so called lawyers, that cannot wait to follow an ambulance. This type of action would stop a lot of these questionable lawsuits. That we taxpayers have to pay.
How ironic is that that same DA's office that is defending Metro's actions in the civil suit was the same office charged with putting forth "unbiased" evidence at the coroner's inquest? I wonder how many people supporting Metro in this case would also support the notion of having the IRS prepare their annual tax returns? They'd have the same level of objectivity...
I did see the Coroners Inquest, it was a circus designed for one purpose, justify the shooting no matter what! This was a travesty brought on by over zealous officers who were both inadequately trained and supervised itching at the trigger. One of the shooters is already facing felony charges for other questionable actions. Gillespie should be at the top of the list with Mosher right under him. RIP Mr. Scott
"Sheriff Doug Gillespie is as corrupt as the Las Vegas Police Department."
americanborn -- but he's voted into office. Again. About the only thing to be said about the voters is "mooooooo"
"This was a travesty brought on by over zealous officers who were both inadequately trained and supervised itching at the trigger."
MG -- a disturbing post, but one worthy of respect, if you were actually at the inquest.
Perhaps this all damns the body politick as much as the perpetrators. The police act on the authority we give them -- badges and guns, with the discretion to kill us. Either they need to be reined in or cut from the herd to face the consequences of this and how many other killings. If they were actually doing the job we sent and trained them to do, then the main liability does fall on us.
"...Mr. Speaker, my subject today is whether America is a police state. I'm sure the large majority of Americans would answer this in the negative. Most would associate military patrols, martial law and summary executions with a police state, something obviously not present in our everyday activities. However, those with knowledge of Ruby Ridge, Mount Carmel and other such incidents may have a different opinion." -- Rep. Ron Paul, from a June 27, 2002, speech on the floor of the House
"Sheriff Doug Gillespie is as corrupt as the Las Vegas Police Department."
americanborn -- but he's voted into office. Again. About the only thing to be said about the voters is "mooooooo
KillerB, you are right!
I'm glad to say I didn't vote for him
gotta agree with Aaronboy, well said.
Scott gave responsible gun owners a bad name.
He didn't deserve to die, but i'm not sure what other outcome could be expected as a result of his actions.
Being drunk, stoned, beligerent, and carrying two firearms (one of which there was no CCW for,) into a private business with a no firearms policy, allowing at least one of those firearms to be visible to employees, not leaving immediately, and not complying immediately with police orders is just begging for trouble.
Anyone who can't see that and who can't see the ridiculous culmination of the above events is living a very dangerous and delusional life.
The DA didn't argue to get the wrongful death and excessive force complaints against Metro and the individual officers tossed. Those will go to trial. The DA was arguing to get Gillispie off the suit as an individual and the County off as well. They are throwing the officers under the bus. Remember, this is a civil and not a criminal trial. The standard of proof is different. This is the first of 3 federal suits against Metro and will probably set the tone for rulings on other suits. It could be a long, expensive summer for Metro.
The Department of Justice has just begun an investigation into the Newark Police Department for systemic abuses, such as excessive force, depriving people of civil rights. The investigation is in accordance with the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the anti-discrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Justice Department will determine whether there are systemic violations of the constitution or federal law by officers of the NPD. During the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will consider all relevant information, including all efforts that Newark has undertaken to ensure compliance with federal law. The Justice Department has engaged in similar reviews of a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies, both large and small, in jurisdictions such as New York, Ohio, Washington, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Louisiana and California.
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/May/1...