Mother faults county in death of daughter
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A 24-year-old woman whose former live-in boyfriend is awaiting trial in connection with the death of her 16-month-old child has filed a $10 million wrongful-death claim against Riverside County. Jennifer Bradley, a Menifee native who has also recently lived in Temecula and Murrieta, is also seeking more than $100,000 to pay for medical expenses for Kerianne Bradley, her deceased daughter. Filing a claim against the county is a required precursor to a lawsuit. “The life of a child is priceless, but at the end of the day, in civil litigation, you have to put a price on it,” said Bradley’s attorney, John Gomez. “In my experience trying wrongful-death cases, $10 million for the death of a child is not unreasonable.” Ryan Christopher Mickey, Bradley’s ex-boyfriend, has been charged with Kerianne’s murder. He has pleaded not guilty, and his next court hearing is scheduled for July 17. Gomez said Wednesday that Bradley intends to sue Mickey as well. The claim states that Bradley is seeking money from the county because of the negligence of Department of Public Social Services employees in investigating possible abuse by Mickey. The claim states that the decision to return Kerianne to the custody of Mickey, and the violation of mandatory duties by a county official, “were substantial factors in causing Kerianne’s death.” Kerianne died Feb. 5. The claim states that she was brought to the hospital on three separate occasions between December and February. During Kerianne’s second trip, on Dec. 30, two doctors expressed the opinion that Kerianne was being abused, the claim states. Mickey had a history of violent behavior, and any investigation of his background done by the Department of Public Social Services would have revealed that, the claim states. “The county was in a better position to determine whether there was abuse,” Gomez said. “(Bradley) had no clue. She obviously doesn’t have access to criminal records, databases and doesn’t have training in investigating child-abuse allegations. Essentially, she’s taking the word of the trained professionals that there was no abuse.” |