Late ‘Glee’ Star Naya Rivera’s Ex Ryan Dorsey Files Wrongful Death Suit Over ‘Utterly Preventable’ Drowning

The ex-husband of late Glee star Naya Rivera, Ryan Dorsey, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of his and Rivera’s 4-year-old son, Josey, for wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The move comes after Rivera’s tragic death from drowning in a California lake in July.

The lawsuit names Ventura County, the United Water Conservation District and Parks and Recreation Management as defendants.

“The lawsuit, investigation of which is ongoing, seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their negligence in causing Naya’s death and in causing Josey, who witnessed Naya’s drowning, to suffer serious emotional distress,” said Dorsey’s attorney, Amjad Khan, in a statement.

According to the court filings, the boat Rivera rented at Lake Piru in Ventura County did not contain certain important safety features, including a safely accessible ladder, adequate rope, an anchor, a radio and more. The suit also says the boat did not come with floatation devices, although other boaters at the scene said they found Josey alone on the boat with Rivera’s purse, her wallet, and a life jacket.

The lawsuit alleges that Rivera’s death was “utterly preventable.”

“There are no signs warning visitors about the dangers of swimming in the lake, to wear life vests when swimming or boating, or that dozens of others have drowned in Lake Piru,” the filing says.