November 5, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Family of victim in Venice boardwalk incident files lawsuit

 

A car plowed through  a crowd of people on the Venice boardwalk last year. (Thinkstock)
A car plowed through a crowd of people on the Venice boardwalk last year. (Thinkstock)suit, lo

The husband and parents of an Italian woman killed when a car plowed through a crowd of people on the Venice boardwalk last year filed a negligence lawsuit today against both the city and county of Los Angeles, as well as the driver of the car.

Alice Gruppioni, who was visiting Venice on her honeymoon, was killed last Aug. 3 and more than a dozen others injured when Nathan Louis Campbell drove south down Ocean Front Walk from Dudley Avenue to near Sunset Avenue, causing chaos and panic at one of Los Angeles’ biggest tourist magnets.

The 32-year-old bride died of blunt force trauma to the head and neck, according to the coroner’s office.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, are Gruppioni’s spouse, Christian Casadel, and parents, Valerio Gruppioni and Barbara Michelini.

Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s office, declined comment on the suit.

City officials were aware the boardwalk is often crowded with visitors, yet there were insufficient bollards or other traffic impediments in place to help prevent such accidents, according to the lawsuit.

The city owns the boardwalk and the county controls parking lots adjacent to it, the suit states.

“Prior to the incident, vehicles frequently drove onto and on the boardwalk,” the suit says. “Indeed, the regularity with which unauthorized, non-emergency vehicles drove onto and on the boardwalk was widely known before Aug, 3, 2013.”

Los Angeles officials also knew that less than three miles away, a car struck and killed 10 people at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market in July 2003, prompting that city to put up metal bollards to minimize the chance of a repeat of the tragedy, the suit states.

Valerio Gruppioni had groomed his daughter to take over and run the family business after his retirement, according to the family’s court papers.

“The death of Alice has caused the loss of the financial support Alice Gruppioni would have contributed to the family …,” the suit says.

Casadel lost the financial benefits his wife would have contributed to their marriage and also has suffered severe emotional distress, according to the complaint.

On Friday, Nancy R. Martinez and her boyfriend, Jose Enrique Gutierrez, filed a separate negligence suit, also alleging the city did not do enough prevent such an accident from occurring by installing more traffic barriers. They were both injured after being hit by the car.

Campbell, 39, is charged with one count of murder, 17 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 10 counts of leaving the scene of an accident.

After a Jan. 8 hearing in which he was ordered to stand trial, defense attorney Philip Dube told reporters that his client “never intended to hurt anybody or to kill that young lady.”

Campbell’s attorney contended that what happened was an accident and that Campbell “panicked” when he experienced a problem with the shift lever on the 2008 Dodge Avenger he had bought a few weeks earlier at a used car dealership in Colorado. The lawyer said his client was struggling to get the Avenger out of the parking gear when he gunned the sedan and it went forward.

Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila said at the preliminary hearing that Campbell was ‘going down a two-block boardwalk” and “hit people at different locations.” It is the prosecution’s position that Campbell “drove that vehicle, hitting whatever got in his way,” Avila said.

Related Posts

The Willows: 30 Years Going Strong

November 5, 2024

November 5, 2024

Founded in 1994, The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, California, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational...

Election Day Freebies and Discounts: Where to Eat, Drink, and Watch Election Results

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

From Free Doughnuts To Watch Parties, How To Unwind With Election Night Deals With this election day being one of...

Early Morning Call From Community Leads to Burglary Arrest in Culver City

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Police Respond To Suspicious Activity Call, Arrest Suspect With Pickaxe Culver City police arrested a man early Friday morning in...

Culver City Police Department is Prepared to Ensure Community Safety During Election Week

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Enhanced Patrols, Activated Emergency Center Ready, Culver City Voting Center is Open The Culver City Police Department has announced an...

Legendary Music Icon Quincy Jones Dies at 91 in Bel Air

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Celebrated Musician, Producer Leaves an Indelible Legacy By Dolores Quintana Legendary musician, music producer, film and television producer, composer of...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Lays Off Longtime Archive and Library Staff

November 4, 2024

November 4, 2024

Downsizing and Restructuring Continue, Affecting Employees with Decades of Service By Dolores Quintana Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture...

LA County Opens 526 New Vote Centers for Early Voting, Announces Conditional Voting for Unregistered Residents

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Metro LA Offers Free Rides on Election Day to Help Residents Get to the Polls Los Angeles County opened an...

New Aviation/Century Station Opens, Linking Metro’s C and K Lines

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Metro’s Newest Station Paves the Way for Future LAX Transit Center The new Aviation/Century Station officially opened this week, marking...

H5N1 Detected in LA County Wastewater, Health Officials Urge Precautions for Residents

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024

Los Angeles County Investigates Low-Level H5 Avian Flu Detected in Wastewater The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is...

Two Events in Culver City This Weekend: Bike Registration and Dance Performance

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Put the Brakes on Bicycle Theft and Enjoy an Evening of Dance and Interactive Art The Culver City Police Department...

All You Need to Know to Attend the Dodgers Victory Parade Tomorrow in DTLA

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

World Champions and LA’s Team to Greet Angelenos After Win of NY Yankees The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that their...

Beverly Hills City Government Agrees to a Stipulated Judgment After Blocking Abortion Clinic Opening

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

City to Implement Training, Oversight on Reproductive Rights Following Legal Settlement  California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a legal agreement...

Dia De Los Muertos 2024: Here’s Where To Celebrate The Holiday Tradition This Weekend

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Los Angeles Has a Variety of Ways to Explore Latino Culture and Honor Ancestors Starting just after Halloween, Dia de...

(Video) Downtown L.A. Reacts to World Series Victory

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

The Dodgers Are World Series Champs For The Eighth Time https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFtyDDKn/

Halloween Pre-Game Party Brings Chills and Spooky Thrills to The Rose Venice

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Enjoy Halloween With Festive Cocktails, Appetizers, and a Costume Contest The Rose Venice in Venice is set to host a...