Suit filed in teen
'ecstasy' death
Sac Bee Excloo
YUBA CITY 9/9/02 (YSN) - The mother of a 17-year-old girl who died from the designer drug “ecstasy” she allegedly took at a barbecue has sued the party hosts for wrongful death.
In a lawsuit filed in Sutter County Superior Court Friday, Kathy Ann Ford alleges her daughter, Nicole Ann Crowder, died because Tomio Uzumi, 18, gave ecstasy to some of the people at a party held at his home April 26. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Izumi's parents, Gary J. and Mary B. Brown, were also responsible for the girl's death, the lawsuit claims, because they left town knowing that Izumi planned to entertain Yuba City High School classmates and that drugs would likely be available.
“During the party (Crowder) ingested an unknown quantity of ecstasy resulting in her death," the suit alleged.
The following morning friends found Crowder in a semi-conscious state and took her to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, Yuba City police reported.
Ford claims Izumi was responsible for the girl's death because he failed to properly manage the party, that he "provided ecstasy to some of those present and invited a supplier of ecstasy to his home, who provided ecstasy."
Izumi furthermore "did nothing to help (Crowder) and in fact ... prevented others from calling 911 to come to (her) aid," Ford alleges.
Izumi's parents were also responsible for her daughter's death, because they allegedly knew Izumi had a past "behavioral problem" with drugs and alcohol, Ford claims.
The teenager's death shocked the community and prompted a grand jury inquiry leading to Izumi's indictment and arrest Aug. 30 on charges of maintaining a place where drugs were distributed and personally giving drugs to minors.
Izumi remained in custody at the Sutter County jail Monday in lieu of $350,000 bail.
Allegations regarding events at the party and Izumi's supposed prior drug problems came from statements party-goers reportedly made to the grand jury, said Michael Trezza, the Yuba City attorney who represents Ford.
In the criminal indictment, Izumi is not charged with responsibility for Crowder’s death, defense attorney Dennis Hoptowit emphasized at arraignment proceedings last week.
The prosecution has no evidence that Izumi gave Crowder any drugs, or any proof that that Crowder didn't take the ecstasy before she arrived at the party, Hoptowit asserted.
A status conference in the civil lawsuit was scheduled for June 2, 2003. In the meantime, Izumi is expected to return to court Sept. 18 to enter a plea in the criminal case.
'ecstasy' death
Sac Bee Excloo
YUBA CITY 9/9/02 (YSN) - The mother of a 17-year-old girl who died from the designer drug “ecstasy” she allegedly took at a barbecue has sued the party hosts for wrongful death.
In a lawsuit filed in Sutter County Superior Court Friday, Kathy Ann Ford alleges her daughter, Nicole Ann Crowder, died because Tomio Uzumi, 18, gave ecstasy to some of the people at a party held at his home April 26. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Izumi's parents, Gary J. and Mary B. Brown, were also responsible for the girl's death, the lawsuit claims, because they left town knowing that Izumi planned to entertain Yuba City High School classmates and that drugs would likely be available.
“During the party (Crowder) ingested an unknown quantity of ecstasy resulting in her death," the suit alleged.
The following morning friends found Crowder in a semi-conscious state and took her to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, Yuba City police reported.
Ford claims Izumi was responsible for the girl's death because he failed to properly manage the party, that he "provided ecstasy to some of those present and invited a supplier of ecstasy to his home, who provided ecstasy."
Izumi furthermore "did nothing to help (Crowder) and in fact ... prevented others from calling 911 to come to (her) aid," Ford alleges.
Izumi's parents were also responsible for her daughter's death, because they allegedly knew Izumi had a past "behavioral problem" with drugs and alcohol, Ford claims.
The teenager's death shocked the community and prompted a grand jury inquiry leading to Izumi's indictment and arrest Aug. 30 on charges of maintaining a place where drugs were distributed and personally giving drugs to minors.
Izumi remained in custody at the Sutter County jail Monday in lieu of $350,000 bail.
Allegations regarding events at the party and Izumi's supposed prior drug problems came from statements party-goers reportedly made to the grand jury, said Michael Trezza, the Yuba City attorney who represents Ford.
In the criminal indictment, Izumi is not charged with responsibility for Crowder’s death, defense attorney Dennis Hoptowit emphasized at arraignment proceedings last week.
The prosecution has no evidence that Izumi gave Crowder any drugs, or any proof that that Crowder didn't take the ecstasy before she arrived at the party, Hoptowit asserted.
A status conference in the civil lawsuit was scheduled for June 2, 2003. In the meantime, Izumi is expected to return to court Sept. 18 to enter a plea in the criminal case.
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