A lawsuit tied to the drowning death of Naya Rivera has settled.
In November 2020, the "Glee" star's ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their 6-year-old son, Josey, who was with his mother when she drowned in California's Lake Piru in July 2020. In the lawsuit against Ventura County's United Water Conservation District and Parks and Recreation Management, Ryan alleged that his ex's death was preventable and that her pontoon boat did not comply with US Coast Guard safety standards.
Attorney Amjad M. Khan, who represents Naya's estate and Josey, announced Feb. 28 that "all parties have entered into a global settlement."
"Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru," the attorney said in a statement obtained by Entertainment Tonight. "Though the tragic loss of Josey's mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy."
Ryan raises Josey with the help of Naya's sister.
In his lawsuit, Ryan argued in court papers, "[The boat] was not equipped with a safely accessible ladder, adequate rope, an anchor, a radio or any security mechanisms to prevent swimmers from being separated from their boats. Disturbingly, later inspection revealed that the boat was not even equipped with any flotation or lifesaving devices, in direct violation of California law, which requires that all pontoons longer than 16 feet be equipped with flotation devices."
The lawsuit also noted that Lake Piru lacks signage describing the dangers of the currents.
Terms of the settlement aren't known.
Naya's case grabbed headlines after she went missing on July 8, 2020, during a boating trip with her son at the Southern California lake. After Josey, then 4, was found alone in a rented boat, a search began for his mom. Naya's body was recovered days later and authorities soon determined the actress had drowned after apparently saving her son when the water got rough. She was 33.