SETTLEMENT EYED IN SUIT FILED BY SLAIN KIDS' DAD.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer The Los Angeles County Claims Board recommended Monday paying $250,000 to settle a wrongful death The taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons. If a person is killed because of the wrongful conduct of a person or persons, the decedent's heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action suit filed by Los Angeles resident Rafael Lopez, whose two children were killed by their mother. The bodies of the children, ages 7 and 4, were found in May 1996 in an advanced stage of decomposition after their mother, former county Health Department employee Martha Lopez, failed to appear for a dependency court hearing. The youngsters had been stabbed to death. Martha Lopez was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in 1999 and is incarcerated incarcerated /in·car·cer·at·ed/ (in-kahr´ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in·car·cer·at·ed adj. Confined or trapped, as a hernia. at Patton State Hospital History Patton State Hospital is located located in San Bernardino county, California. First opened in 1893, it was renamed Patton State Hospital after Harry Patton in 1927. Patton opened in 1893, as a state run, public sector forensic hospital. . In April 1996, Rafael Lopez had filed a petition in Juvenile Court juvenile court Special court handling problems of delinquent, neglected, or abused children. Two types of cases are processed by a juvenile court: civil matters, often concerning care of an abandoned or impoverished child, and criminal matters, arising from antisocial requesting that the children be removed from their mother because she posed a danger to them. In his lawsuit, Rafael Lopez says he told social workers that his wife was in a ``deranged de·range tr.v. de·ranged, de·rang·ing, de·rang·es 1. To disturb the order or arrangement of. 2. To upset the normal condition or functioning of. 3. To disturb mentally; make insane. mental state'' and had made false allegations against him to regain custody of the children. The children were at the center of a custody battle between the couple when Martha Lopez claimed that Rafael had sexually molested mo·lest tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. his son and physically abused his daughter - false allegations, the father said. The court ordered that the children continue living with their mother, with Rafael Lopez allowed monitored visitation. The family also was placed under the supervision of the Department of Children and Family Services. The Board of Supervisors will vote March 30 whether to give the settlement final approval. Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com |
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