Mallory Dies parents sue driver, Capps and the U.S. government
April 20, 2014
The parents of the woman fatally injured when a legislative aide for Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara struck her and then drove away filed a lawsuit against the driver Raymond Morua, Capps and the federal government. [KEYT]
Morua, 32, left a Dec. 6 holiday party for the Santa Barbara Independent, struck Malory Dies, drove away and crashed into a palm tree. Morua had a blood alcohol level of .17.
Attorney Robert Stoll, who represents Matthew and Raeona Dies, contends Raymond Morua was on the job as a legislative aide to Capps at the time of the accident. In addition, Stoll says Capps was aware of Morua’s previous DUIs and hired him for a position that required driving from events that included alcohol.
Stoll also claims Capps and her staffers attempted to cover-up knowledge of Morua’s past.
“While Mallory was still alive, there was a move underfoot by Lois Capps’ office to get Morua out of jail and get him out of town,” Stoll told KEYT. “They did it by forging Mr. Morua’s name on what are known as medical authorizations. But, then they got word that she was going to be taken off life support. We don’t know how Capps’ office found out such sensitive family information. They moved very quickly at that point and cancelled all plans to get him out of town and then began to distance themselves from Mr. Morua. That’s what this case is going to be searching for in the way of proof.”
Morua pleaded guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and fleeing the scene of the crime. A judge will sentence the former congressional aide on May 28.
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