Demi Moore Pool Drowning Sparks Lawsuit From Victim’s Parents

Complaint claims that there were “abundant dangerous conditions” at the property when the drowning occurred

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 15: Actress Demi Moore attends the opening of The De Re Gallery on May 15, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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The parents of a man who drowned at Demi Moore’s Los Angeles home in July 2015 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming that their son’s death need not have happened.

In their suit, Jorge Valle and Maria Valle, the parents of Edenilson Steven Valle, claim that there were “abundant dangerous conditions” at the property when the drowning took place, which were aggravated by the fact that alcohol was served.

Moore is not named in the lawsuit, but rather Tree House Trust, which according to the suit has “an ownership interest or management interest in the property,” as well as trustee Bessy Wong and Lenny Hernandez, whom the suit says was the house manager and hosted the party where Valle drowned.

The suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Valle, who was 21 at the time of the drowning, announced that he couldn’t swim when he arrived at the party.

Despite that, the suit alleges, there was no evidence that Valle was told about the depth of the pool — estimated at nine to 10 feet in the lawsuit — and there “was no safety signage in view [in] police photos.”

The Valles allege that Hernandez didn’t warn their son that he risked drowning if he couldn’t swim and entered the deep end of the pool, and “increased the risk by serving liquor in the dangerous area which could inhibit reaction time by decedent in the event of an emergency.”

“Police photos of the backyard show very serious lighting issues, and numerous decorative rocks placed randomly for effect, creating abundant trip hazards,” the suit continues.

Moore was out of town when the drowning occurred at her residence, but issued a statement calling the drowning an “unthinkable tragedy.”

“I am in absolute shock. I was out of the country traveling to meet my daughters for a birthday celebration when I got the devastating news,” Moore said in a statement issued to TheWrap shortly after the tragedy. “The loss of a child is an unthinkable tragedy and my heart goes out to this young man’s family and friends. I ask that you please respect the privacy of all concerned during this sensitive time.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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