8Sep/080
Family files $5M wrongful death lawsuit against city
The family of a 9-year-old boy who died in March in a sump has filed a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Bakersfield.
Zane Newton was playing in the sump near his home when he was buried by a sudden cave-in.
A friend that he was playing with initially said Newton had been kidnapped, sparking a search for the boy that ended when his body was found.
The lawsuit, filed by a thousand oaks lawyer, alleges the city was negligent in warning of dangerous conditions on property, properly fencing the property and failing to keeping people out of the property.