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Melody Ross Family Responds by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 02.22.10 |
+ 3:15pm | A statement has been released today from the law firm representing the family of Melody Ross in their wrongful death claims against the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District. Responding to claims first published in an LBPOST.com article that the extended Ross family has been divided over the decision to file the wrongful death claims, the statement denies those allegations. The press release is provided in full, below. Family United In Support of Melody Ross' Parents
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oh please that is a bunch of bull. then should everywhere we walk have extra security b/c of gangs in our city. she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. maybe her ride should have been there on time. sal no. just no. someone needs to start a petition to show this family that the community that supported them through their hard time does not agree with their decision. Matt "We don't want another family to lose a daughter or a son because the school was trying to save money instead of keeping our kids safe." Thats weird because filing a claim and following through with a law suit will only subtract money from the school and district. I doubt that increased lighting or even metal detectors would have prevented this tragedy in the first place. Stop it! Stop it! the school is not to blame, The kid with the Gun is. Stop trying to profit! Anon I dont understand this because my brother and my cousin both went to Wilson and they never had a problem. Crime rate is down overall and now they are saying the school is responsible. Why dont they sue the parents of the kid who shot her since that was wrongful death. The kid should not have had a gun and should not have been to Wilson that night since he was not a student there. Wilson can't ask everyone for ID. Come on! Take Responsibility Take responsibility LBUSD and take more steps to protect the children in and around the schools. I want my children safe. bryceland Self-serving nonsense. Disappointed Turn the two bangers over to the family and let them deal with a penalty. No amount of money will bring the daughter back! Dunno Ok, how's this...We'll assign one officer for each person that attends a high school event. THAT should prevent any and every possible crime. RIGHT? NLBr There is no way to know that if there was more security that the same result may not have happened. Do we know that the shooter was actually in the game or just outside waiting for his intended victim? If he didn't go to the game then he wouldn't have been scanned with detectors or other kinds of scans. This tragedy happened on a public street outside of the school property. If this law suit is allowed to proceed then it could be argued that every murder in any city is the fault of the police because they didn't do a good enough job protecting us. idea how about all the parents who feel the school needs more security stay w/ your children at all times. don't let them out of your sight. protect them best you can. but if something happens will you sue yourself? leave wilson, lb unified, and the city alone. they do the best they can. disgusted lb parent dear ross family: you call this "honoring your daughter". its beyond disgusting and entirely dishonorable. it was a tragedy; an unforseeable, unpredictable unpreventable act of violence. it could have happened anywhere. it is an act which makes no sense at all - but it is most assuredly not the fault of the LBUSD. as a LBUSD parent i can find plenty of fault with the system, but not here, not this time. ross family, you are getting very very bad advice from counsel who merely want to profit from your loss. meantime, you lose what respect you had gained in the community through your loss and your daughter's honor is forever tarnished at the hands of her very own family. i find the whole situation and the manner in which you have handled yourselves to be wholly disgusting. Sandolla So, just to be clear ~ if the additional security and the bag searches and metal detectors at the 'entrance to the stadium' had already been implemented, how would that have prevented a child with a gun from using it outside the stadium? I don't usually look forward to jury duty, but ~ where do I volunteer for this one? LJ Really unfortunate that the family has stooped this low. I doubt their daughter would have approved. I feel deeply sorry for all of them. IDEA Hey here's an idea. Maybe the city should pay for shooting lessons for all gang members so that they are more accurate and they stop shooting innocent bystanders. TO Other than this incident when was the last time someone was shot at a high school football game? What precedence is there for the school to assume that something like this is likely to happen? It's easy to look at it after the fact and say they should have done more to prevent this. You can say that about every crime that has ever been committed. If the Ross family was so aware of the dangers of going to a high school football game why would they have let their daughter go? Aren't they then, by their own logic, partially responsible for their own daughter’s death? Maybe they should be suing themselves. Henry Now, I have to be ready to be searched in my car when I drive by a similar event even though I'm just driving by and not going directly to the event. How this people is going to prove that the killers were watching the same game into the stadium, then come out and start shooting everybody. Does the police has the right to search every vehicle at the parking lot for weapons? I don't think that the killers had the weapons inside the stadium like if they were carring popcorns. This Melody's family is realy sick. I'm sorry for myself because I donate good money in annonimous way to support them. I hope that when they hit this lotto and collect the big money, they will be able to repay every single penny that the community lovely donated for this cause. anon2 So let me get this straight. The Ross family wants all the rest of our 'donation' monies to go to the school for better security. I wonder how much of the money THEY end up pocketing from this ridiculous lawsuit they plan to donate to the school for better security??? Do they really think we are all that stupid and gullible? They just dont get it... carole To me, this is a microscopic look at what has gone terribly wrong in our country. How very sad that we have allowed ourselves to evolve into a country of people who are always insisting on being made whole. It just does not work that way!!! It is because NO ONE is willing to sacrifice. We have lost our way and our strength. Reality Check I agree that Wilson High School is NOT responsible for what happened to Melody. I graduated from Wilson High in 99 and there definately was a gang problem. For years, high schools throughtout the city are known to have problems with Gangs. This was a rival home-coming football game. Adequate security should've been provided. It doesnt just take a tragic event, a loss of an innocent life to change something. It takes actions like this to make our schools safer in the future. Some people fail to remember that the gunman shot into a crowd of hundreds of people. 3 people were hit. It could've been many more! So dont blame Melody for being at a school event. Dont blame her parents for allowing her to go. Reality is, if it wasnt her, it would've been someone else! Maybe your son, or your daughter. henry We shall ask the Ross family for all the money back that we lovely donate for this cause. Now that they are after the big bucks, they "may" be able to collect a big bunch of money so they will have to re-pay for the community good will. If you get the money, then pay back every single penny you received for the funeral and additional expenses from us. Scott B To the parents of Melody Ross, Worried about safety at our schools? Take the money you're going to give your lawyers and donate that to Wilson HS to help pay for added security. If you do win this lawsuit Mr & Mrs. Ro$$ give them all of that too!!! Scott B. JHS 1969 Cliv This is just another line of BS that the family is trying to feed us. Yes I feel bad for the family, and yes there should be a call to action after a crime such as this but the school is not responsible for High School Aged People as they are off the property. This is just another sob story to divert the attention. Finally, by suing the LBUSD you are hurting the schools, taking money away from students, and possibly making the issue worse due to a lack of funds. I said it the first time and I will say it again... SHAME ON YOU MR AND MRS ROSS AND YOUR BLOOD SUCKING ATTORNEY!!! Long Beach parent The Ross Family has made a mistake listening to greedy lawyers. The Ross family's loss is not about money so how is money going to change anything--if you agreed to donate all proceeds to enhance security, then maybe you would redeem yourself in our eyes--but I doubt that is what you have in mind. I hope you lose big time because this was not the school's or the city's fault! Jesse How does suing a cash strapped school district that's about to LAY OFF 700 EMPLOYEES help them provide increased security measures at football games? Did they not already respond the way you want them to by providing the called for security? The Ross's are basically suing the community that stood by them and supported them in their tragic loss. DN A simple solution to this problem is to adopt the system most of the world uses: Loser pays. The added benefit would be I would not have to see Gloria Allred sitting next to some money-hungry publicity hungry fool with their pants on the ground... pants on the ground.... lookin like a fool with you pants on the ground LBCritic There have been court decisions that have ruled that no one is quarantined police protection â€' even though loss of life was due to a botched response to a 911 call. There is NO protection from illness, danger, assault, or death. There is absolutely no protection from a stray bullet â€' as a woman who was sleeping on her porch found out recently. No school, city or police department can protect any student or citizen from injury or death from a random bullet. Place the blame where it belongs â€' in the person pulling the trigger. Jon in 90808 Dear Ross Family: SHAME ON YOU! I feel bad for any parent losing a child, but I believe that even Melody would be ASHAMED of the legacy her family is leaving her. Send back the LB Post Award, Mr. & Ms. Ross - You do not deserve to have it hanging in your home. This community gave to you till it hurt, and you respond by hurting us more. You even lie about your family members. Uncle Sam said what he said - and you and your hospital-cafeteria-based shysters can not change it with all the false, lying, self-serving press releases in the world. Recently, LB Post (Ryan) provided a Google-based "Murder Map" of Long Beach. Maybe Ryan can add a link, but I looked at it to see how my area fared, and found that ALL murders in LB last year took place west of Cherry. Evy single one of them, with one exception: Melody Ross. Is a school in such an area supposed to expect a drive-by? What if a plane crashed? Should they have prepared better because they are near flight path? Please, Ross Family, just stop. Jon in 90808 Also, I was never in favor of Ross winning the Person of the Year. It was a great loss, but what did it signify? Drawing attention to the rare instance of gang murders near Wilson? You want to pick a child to win, a much better choice would have been little Kaylee Alverez. She brought attention to deaths by drunk drivers - a much more widespread problem (and higher count) than gang murders. I kept quiet on the subject at the time, but now this whole thing makes me sick. My child will soon enter the LB School system, and it will be that much more underfunded if these lying, horrible, yet "unified" family members and their ambulance-chasing lawyers take the money that we don't have enough of in the first place. Wilson HAHAHAHAHA YOUR ONLY DOING IT FOR THE MONEY! EARN IT. ForLB Well, who cares how many family members support or did not support the crazy decision made by the Ross family. Regardless, of who supports them and regardless of any thing they say, at this point, we have seen the true colors of their characters! It is amazing how ungrateful people could be. If the family's concern is policy change, then they need to sit down with the appropriate people and make the change. After all because of this tragedy, most City officials have reached out to them. So work with those officials and be an instrument of change. Anything beyond that is obviously greed. Basically, OUR City's money is our money and the Ross family is attempting to take it away from all of us, from our children and from the school programs that is key to our City. Once again how ungrateful could one become? Let us find a way to stop this craziness!! Robert I want my money back. Mrs. Kravitz Hello Long Beach is a district of School of Choice. The rivals are pretty much gone. Which school is the Ross family saying brings the gangs !! Seems the shooter was from Wilson not Poly, How much security do these people need. Maybe parents should attend the games with their children and be there for a ride home. Perhaps the students should not be down the street from the school football exits because security was down there. There is no explanation for this family wanting money. The school district did nothing wrong. Next they will cancel all football games because students may be shot. I hope other parents learned something and that is make sure your child is not stranded on a street corner in the dark. ridiculous so, will LBUSD be able to use the money from the Melody Ross Fund to defend itself from her family? i truly hope the family plans to return every penny it received from a community who will now suffer from a school district with even less money. shame on you. CACSHELL Class of '84 at Millikan had the last year of freedom to roam...as gates were added ... not realizing purpose to keep students safe inside and to keep those unwanted on the outside..... What did I just say..."KEEP THOSE UNWANTED ON THE OUTSIDE." Melody was SAFE on the inside, Responsibility of LBUSD. What goes on at the outside of Wilson is not the responsibility of the LBUSD. There can be all the security and still this can happen. It was mentioned in the Press-Telegram, she (Melody) was sitting on the curb. Why was she sitting on the curb? Where was MAMA/PAPA to pick her up? I hope this goes to a jury where the intelligent jury and judge will throw this out!! Though mentioned above, "Rather then pay a lawyer, donate those monies to Wilson/LBUSD to be placed into a security fund for events that may need additional staffing" and not hiring "TEMP STAFF" they aren't going to do anything... Or just go to your local t-shirt company and have shirts printed with WILSON SECURITY nice and big, and that may detour the idiots out there with their guns, but most likely not. Gang Bangers with their guns are still going to approach...regardless! Seek penalty and $$$ from them!! where were you? mr and mrs ross (and the related supporting family band of idiots), where were YOU when your daughter was standing on a street corner in the dark well after a football game - after the city minor's curfew?? why were you not there to pick her up, to ensure her safety and safe passage home? why is it that you are so willing to place blame on others for her death and affix a price tag to her worth? where were you? are you not equally at fault for failing to provide safe and timely transportation for her after the game? you may find this a harsh question, but it is every bit as critical (and potentially ridiculous) as your assertion that the school district is at fault. she was a minor, out after curfew. you had a fiduciary responsibility to protect her - where were you? Miles Hate to say it, but I'm losing sympathy for this family by the minute. Ugh!!! GetOUTofLBRossFam Go sue the shooter and the family of the shooter. LBUSD is not to blame, the shooter is! Should every family who ever loss someone to violence sue the police since every crime happens on some police district? Ross Family, remember who gives the school money, it's us tax payers. YOU'RE STEALING FROM US!!! LBUSD Employee I can assure you that LBUSD could honestly care less about their students or their employees. So many things will eventually come out and many will be shocked. I agree with the family they have the right to sue and prove a point. MO Are you kidding me? Where were the parents? Why didn't they provide security for their daughter? Maybe the parents should be sued for no protecting their child. This is pure insanity and shame on the Ross family. You have insulting the community that pull together on your behalf. Cynthhia The school is not to blame Enough Zenough So courageous, so noble this family. I'm sure they have every intention of giving every penny they may receive toward children's safety. And their attorney - I'm certain he's working pro bono. I mean after all, it's about protecting the kids, right? Stu C. Here's a different scenario: Instead of being shot to death, Ms. Ross was struck and killed by a car while crossing Ximeno. Would the parents (and worm lawyer) go after the LBUSD, LBPD and city of Long Beach for poor lighting and not providing a CROSSING GUARD? The answer should be a resounding "NO" because it would have been the driver's fault for running the red light! Driver and shooter are one and the same in this scenario. They, and they alone, are to blame for her death. Lots of "ifs" here....the family feels that "if" there was better lighting and "if" there were more police present, their daughter would be alive today. How about "if" she had been denied permission to go the game by her protective parents or better yet, "if" she hadn't been made to wait for her ride home.....the point is, no "ifs" will change the simple fact that NO ONE PERSON OR FAMILY, NO AGENCY, NO LIGHTING, NO SCHOOL DISTRICT is culpable---the low life, idiot, jerk, piece of vermin, who couldn't even shoot straight, is the ONLY ONE TO BLAME! The sooner the Ross figures this out, the better, because their reputation is sinking lower by the day. If it sinks much lower, they'll be at just about the same level as the dork who started this whole nightmare. So Now They Care?! Would police presence have deterred drive by shooters? There is a chance it would have, then the Ross family should sue for CHANGE-POLICE PRESENCE AT GAMES-- as an outcome rather than monetary damages that they are seeking. Others might argue that people just don't do that. They fight for all the monetary damages they can get from a company or individual. Southern California includes among its residents a large number of people who snort and shoot up cocaine. I definitely choose not to emulate them. We have choices to make in life. We can choose to sue for change that will improve conditions for teens at Wilson High School, or we can sue for outrageous monetary damages. In some cases, however, it is appropriate to sue for monetary damages, especially when an entity, in an attempt to save money, deliberately dumps toxic waste in people's backyards. In that case, the punishment should be severe enough to deter and clean up the mess. The Ross family, on the other hand, has not put the safety of others' children as a consistent reason for suing. Now they claim their lawsuit is to protect teens. The lawsuit speaks for itself. They don't seek improvements, just money. The Ross' addiction to money, not justice, makes them despicable. Annette !!! I agree with Matt - the idea of taking money from the school district with the idea that it will help them to provide more services is absolutely backwards. It is that concept that they are preaching which makes me believe that they are not doing this in the spirit of justice. pam b. the lawyer will get 33% if the case settles, 40% if it goes to trial plus all expenses. gee, i wonder where the idea of a lawsuit came from? and of course the shooter isn't sued for damages - he doesn't have a deep pocket - the school district and city allegedly has the funds, except not this year....evidently the family is totally assimilated - the american way is to turn every tragedy into profit for someone. Bruin Fan The school security was more than adequate. The individual who took the girl's life was NOT AT THE GAME. There is no way to control the streets in a city the size of Long Beach. Admit your true intentions and stop trying to find a scape goat. more taxes lets give every kid a bodyguard. lets increase taxes to do it. i grew up in detroit in the 60's. loads of guns, no metal detectors ... learn to duck CHARLIE I realize it's tough to love our enemies, but, the two Commandments Our Blessed Lord left with us was to - "Love your Heavenly Father first, and second, Forgive & Love One Another As I Have Forgiven & love You." There is no where He said to sue your Brothers & Sisters when they have harmed or taken from you - and I say, especially your Community! Disgusted in LB GREED is the only word that describes this situation. Where was her family when this happened? Why was she sitting on a curb waiting for a ride? Where were her parents? Maybe they should be arrested for child neglect? Why don't we just cancel all football games or require parents to attend them with their children--possibilities? Spit Ross scum, you are not welcome in Long Beach. Your name is dirt. You are pariahs. If you are seen in public your faces will likely be spat upon. Move away. You can never live down the filth you have covered yourselve in. You will lose the case and have nothing but your infamy. You have destroyed your name. You are nothing. It's the LAW Ever hear the phrase "Wake up and smell the coffee?" Is the hate expressed by the writers on this blog just a bunch of people angry at the world? If not, then attempt to understand that the LBUSD was negligent in supplying adequate security for Melody Roos and ALL the other students attending the football game. (Why were there so many police and security forces at Wilson this past Friday? The religious nuts that demonstrated have never been a violent group but the security was there to make sure things remained non-vilonet) So, ask yourself why LBUSD and the Wilson staff did not follow state law and provide the same type of intensive security on the fatefull night? "LBUSD Employee" is 100% correct when saying more is to come! To the writer that don't have insurance or don't understand how insurance policies work, the ultimate settlement will NOT take any money out of the classroom or district budget, but it should cost some administrators their jobs! (And that will SAVE the district money!) Lastly, for those writing who are being so CRUEL to the Ross family, you sound like the same type of people that say women get raped because of what they wear or that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shame on you!!! We have LAWS to protect students, LBUSD decided not to follow the LAW! Brian While I would never ever wish the loss of a child on my worst enemy, there is something about this family that does not sit quite right with me. Their motives are so damn opaque. Not a Lawyer @It's the Law, You sound like you must be that sleezy lawyer representing the Ross family, or just some other sleezy lawyer. You shrews think that right and wrong can only be defined by a judge (lawyer in a robe). Before there were shrews (lawyers) there were morals. We don't need you to tell us right from wrong, we know the difference when it is laid out before us. Despite your linguistic manipulations and clever interpretations, it is clear, to quite a few people apparently, that suing the city and school over this is WRONG. It would be a bright day if all the lawyers who add zero to GDP (they merely shift currency between people while skimming a third for themselves) actually produced something of tangible value for society. Where's Shakespere when we need him? elvis The bottom feeder lawyer is scum, it's his job to be scum. The family wants to honor Melody, i am sure they are going to donate every penny to worthy charity. This is the families ticket out of LB. Let's be real you want safe schools get the HECK out of Long Beach. To every person that is going to say it can happen anywhere. It's far less likely to happen in Irvine, Costa Mesa, you name the place, it's less likely than in LB. This wasn't even the only shooting in LB that night---a great place to live. mike this is disgusting!!! i hope these lawyers can't sleep at night KJ Still no answer to the type of security the Ross family is theoretically calling for. What is their answer to the question of how you prevent youth from joining gangs in the first place? More security doesn't prevent gang violence. More police doesn't prevent gang violence. Social programs? After school programs? I don't know. I do think that taking money from an already strapped school does not work toward creating the conditions for ending gang initiations of our youth. Do gang members shoot when police and security guards are present? Yes. Do they shoot with street lights? Yes--they shoot in lighted convenience stores for goodness sake and on video. How many safety precautions are good enough? WHY ISN'T ANYONE QUESTIONING THE MOTIVES FOR GANG MEMBERSHIP TO BEGIN WITH? Until we approach that problem, all of this is just nonsense! Capster Even if "It's The Law" and "LBUSD Employee" are correct about the attitude and actions of the district, school, police, etc. need to change, suing is a ridiculous answer! How about calling the community together to create and implement changes? THAT might make some meaningful difference. As many of the comments here have mentioned, this wasn't even a school or district issue - the incident occurred outside of school grounds after the event ended. While a greater police presence outside the school MIGHT have prevented this senseless tragedy, that cannot be assumed. Numerous shootings and crimes have occurred within close proximity of officers all over the world. As for the comment about the police presence last week for the Westboro Baptist Church fiasco, wake up - of COURSE there would be a greater show of force - it was a planned demonstration with known charged emotional aspects, occurring outside school grounds on public property, not a football game! The two events shouldn't even be compared to each other with regard to how much or little police protection was needed. To the Ross family - you want to cause some meaningful changes? Do it by staying committed to rallying the neighborhoods and working together to create a safer environment! Suing is not the way to achieve anything except to add another vacation home to your lawyers portfolio and raising costs to the city and school district. And lastly to "It's the Law" - with all due respect - you are an idiot! Of course it will take money from the district and all of us! Whether the money comes from the district and city's bank accounts, or from insurance, everything connects together in the end. Why do you think insurance rates are so ridiculously high brainiac? Because each of us are paying every day for the lawsuits of greedy leeches - and yes, I refer to the lawyers even more than the clients. Question: What do you call 10,000 lawyers at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? Answer: A GOOD START! Tup Dear Ross Family: Your family have disappoined our Cambodian Community that supported your family through the hard time. We does not agree with your family's greed. Herb P. Why was not the school district of Dallas or state of Texas not sued when an alleged gunman took comfort in a book depository (school property) and shot at the President of the United States, JFK and the Texas Governor? And why did his killer not get sued for using a rosco. Millikan mom What a tragic way to learn a lesson. The Ross's knew the hazards of Long Beach, yet they let their minor out past curfew and without a ride. The parents should have been on school grounds before their child had a chance to leave the property. Still, even if all precautions were taken there are no gaurantees. Sadly gangs and guns are a threat to all of us in the USA. I hope you protect Melody's siblings better. Protecting children is the parents responsibility, it's not the school and the city's job. Your greed is not going to bring Melody back. All you have done is exposed to the community your lack of character and what bad parents you truly are. Melissa boycott the law firm.. and run the lawyer out of town if he is in LB....and yes he has the 'right' to take the case, but we all have the right to protest this---a lawsuit against the LBUSD is a suit against all of us who pay taxes and live in LB....if a foundation was set up for Melody Ross, people should respond to that as well and it should be disbanded....any money given to it or the family before should be returned... I'm so sorry for the tragic death of their daughter, but LBUSD is not to blame! Unfortunately this family of 'immigrants' have taken advantage of shameful litigation---however too many others Americans and Californians have done this as well....many others in this community have sued Long Beach when greed was the motivation... we just don't know about it ! I feel sorry for their other (children/child ?) left behind....What an embarrassment ! I'm sure it will escalate into a huge problem...They will probably end up leaving town----with all 'our' money ! JP wasn't there a memorial fund set up for her? and wasn't she named Long Beach's "Person of the Year?" makes you wish you could take it all back Wilson grad Given the LBUSD budget issues, it provided the security it could. In addition, even with more police on patrol there is no way to stop these type of gang monsters from their crimes. They simply can't be everywhere at every moment. Last time I checked, football games are not a high risk for shootings. If the administration needed to cut back expenditures across the board, I would expect football game security to take a cut like everything else This was a tragic loss. It's the Law Dear "Not a Lawyer," A great lawyer once said, "if you have issues with moral and ethics, get a Priest; BUT if you have problems with the LAW, get a lawyer!" And to those that think talking to LBUSD and others will help, remember they know the LAW and have choosen not to comply with it. Really, it's very simple because "It's the LAW!" Opposite Man Remember, she is Person Of The Year! Hooray! Eagle Eye Guess everyone is seeing right through the bs. Shallow and phony people in the world.... they make me sick. If I lost a daughter or son, I think I'd have more integrity to think about principles, and what's truly important, then chasing after a moneypot opportunity. Hope you can enjoy all that settlement money, and live a life of luxury afterwards. That's justified for you right? Actually, I hope you not only don't get a square nickel, but I hope the city or some independent auditor, does an audit for all the funds donated to cover YOUR PERSONAL EXPENSES, in regards to the funeral proceedings. And wow, nice final note in memory of your daughter, this is. Eagle Eye NLBR said - There is no way to know that if there was more security that the same result may not have happened. Do we know that the shooter was actually in the game or just outside waiting for his intended victim? If he didn't go to the game then he wouldn't have been scanned with detectors or other kinds of scans. This tragedy happened on a public street outside of the school property. If this law suit is allowed to proceed then it could be argued that every murder in any city is the fault of the police because they didn't do a good enough job protecting us. ============================= THIS!!!!! Think To all who support "yet another law suit", I volunteered in the schools for years. I know how little money they work with. I know how they are blamed for everything, from how another parent raises their child to being accountable for behavioral and learning disabilities. When parents don't get what they want, they sue. If you want to know why schools have furniture that's 50 - 75 years old, not enough books, look at the rate of litigation the public sector schools deal with. After all that, they don't dare kick out a any student because why? they will be sued. NO, while they're not perfect, I'd like to see private industry manage what they manage. As for the LBUSD employee? get a job elsewhere. See how badly you're treated. DISGUSTING!!! Absolutely disgusting, and so sad for their daughter! To Mr. & Mrs Ross you will not win you will not be supported by the community and Melody would of been so embarressed by your decision! You should go back to Cambodia you are no longer welcomed here!!! enmlbc Hope this case does get to a jury and LBUSD doesn't settle this blackmail, for profit, nonsensical claim, so that the jury of their peers can slam them! Randy LB Res I am very disgusted and deeply offended with the statement the Ross family released to the public by their attorney's office. I do believe that is all nothing but BS; and, that each and every student, parent and teacher that showed up at the WBC demonstration in protest and opposition, should appear at any Court hearings, appearances or the like with respect to the Ross' family furthering their greed to sue for monies from the LBUSD and the City of Long Beach. There is "strength in numbers," and you must all show more than the Community just how much the school and city will lose monetarily and how it will affect your education, sports activities and security throughout the year at school. You'll lose and we'll all lose as tax payers! It's your future so stand up and protest this outrageous lawsuit! If the Cambodian Community along Anaheim Avenue were embarrassed by the Ross lawsuit, they must be in tears and in hiding now. What a shame to your own kind, Mr. & Mrs. Ross... Surely the Cambodian Community are not the persons the Ross' make reference to when they stated in their response, "...In fact, Melody Ross' extended family has been calling the family to show their support for Mr. and Mrs. Ross' decision..." GMFBreak disappointed and embarras to be asian. the loss of a life is terrible, but to blame the district and city for a stray bullet... juan I do not understand this bullcrap.... what happens if there was another incident and the school made it possible to their best solution to tighten security? I cannot believe that I spent my own time in supporting the Ross's loss at the the candlelight virgil and memorial service and then as a thank you it all boils down to who to blame!!! PLEASE!!! Jon in 90808 Ross Family, you know in your hearts that this is wrong. Please do not steal from my child because you lost yours. If you are so concerned about school safety, TELL US WHAT YOU WANT ALREAY! I'll stand beside you in front of the school with a sign. I'll bet we can get a couple thousand Wilson HS school kids to stand with us, who have recently shown that they are up for a good cause.... Eagle Eye Is there any way we can sue this family for neglecting this poor young girl, leaving her stranded past curfew? Obviously this lawsuit shows where this family places it's values, and that they are quite distorted. Randy LB Res Hello there, "Not a Lawyer!" I truly enjoyed reading your comment with regard to what "It's the LAW" had to say. So I commend you for a well written response to make sense of what he/she wrote. But let me express once again that while the LBUSD and City of Long Beach have insurance policies in place, their is a share of costs for which they will be responsible to come up with. In addition, if they are not successful in defeating the lawsuit they will most likely have increases in their insurance premiums. Now, that money isn't going to come out of no insurance policy to pay for itself -- so guess who will end up having to pay for those increases? Guess who will most likely end up suffering as a result of less funds available for education because the funds are being expended in higher-insurance premiums because the insurance are a requirement? Now, I repeat what I made mentioned above that we need to all stand unit at each and every Court hearing and appearance with respect to the lawsuit and make it well known by those that were in attendance that there was plenty of security present that Event night. Let not only the Community, but also the forum of the "Public Opinion" decide of it should have been that every attendee have their own security by them at all time - and if that is fair and reasonable for the school or city to have covered in costs? Let's be reminded that the lawsuit must meet certain standards of law before it moves forward as someone has previously mentioned in that we hope the Court would grant a "Motion for Summary Judgment" based on all the defense evidence in the case and that it will be tossed out of Court... Oh, and it already sounds as if Mrs. Ross is concerned about the Motion because their statement did mention that they had hoped that the LBUSD and City hadn't DENIED their claims. I still conclude... Not even the donated residual funds will cover the attorneys' and Court fees just to answer the lawsuits! GMFBreak!! Wik Ross Family: Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross posited sequential stages of grief including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, which are commonly referred to as the "grief cycle." Which one of these did the lawyer interrupt you with? Life and Death happens. Refocus yourselves and be blessed. From Concerned Parent to Nice to see a fellow citizen who is willing to pay higher taxes in order to protect our children in and around schools. I also want my children safe. So let's advice LBUSD and the State of California that we need to increase tax revenues. SettleDownFolks Let's stop this attack on the Ross family. If you want to place blame for the decision to go with a civil lawsuit you could blame the attorneys but in reality it is our greed driven society. Even in tragedies such as these, people are out to get money any way they can. Very sad news. A Degusted old Bruin Where does this tragic story end? The whole community was in mourning over the loss of this young lady... Now a greedy family looking for profit will pull their daughter's name through the mud in an effort to gain financially from the acts of a criminal... This has nothing to do with the school or the school district... The lawsuit has zero merit. In the end, time and money will be wasted while lawyers look for an angle for monetary gain, and the community will despise a family trying to compensate a loss of a loved one with money... It is despicable and all associated with this lawsuit should be ashamed This is like suing a home The school is on a budget and the district is cutting down on a lot of things. Also the fact that California is out of money and will be dirt poor within the end of March. I hope they feel great about suing the district. Hope they realize it's the same as suing a homeless or a bankrupted corporations. Not a Lawyer @It's the Law, "A great lawyer once said..." Are you flippin' joking?!? "great lawyer" is an oxymoron. That's like using wonderful to describe Beelzebub! The only way you could read this overwhelmingly negative response by the community and still think this lawsuit is right is if YOU have NO morals. Morals are not defined in your law books, they are defined by society. And society has spoken. Sociopathic lawyers that feel no moral obligation to do right, no obligations to their fellow citizens and no obligation to society at large, are the definition of wrong and evil. But you can't understand this. You're missing the gene. Eagle Eye Not a Lawyer said - "The only way you could read this overwhelmingly negative response by the community and still think this lawsuit is right is if YOU have NO morals. Morals are not defined in your law books, they are defined by society. And society has spoken. Sociopathic lawyers that feel no moral obligation to do right, no obligations to their fellow citizens and no obligation to society at large, are the definition of wrong and evil. But you can't understand this. You're missing the gene. " =================== exactly To Ross Family Karma! Karma! Karma! that's all I have to say you should seriously think about what you are going to do it's wrong it's disgusting and you have destroyed you and your daughters name such a shame, now can I have the $200 back I donated to the fund??? You greedy disgusting human beings!!!! wow I can't believe some things people are saying. You seriously think that they are doing this for the money? I'm sure if you lost someone in your family you would be doing the same thing and then it would be okay, but since it's someone else it's the wrong thing to do. And blaming the child for being out past curfew? I'm sure your children are always home on time that you always pick them up with no delay. Some of you guys should be embarrassed of yourselves. Disgusted (In response to wow) I CAN believe some of the things people are saying. If you haven't been keeping up with the overwhelming amount of comments expressing disgust to the response of this lawsuit in at least three LB Post articles, you are out of touch! Yes, we do 'seriously' think that they are doing this for the money. No, if we lost someone in our family given these circumstances, we would not be doing the same thing--haven't you been reading? And no, it's not okay, it's just wrong. No one is 'blaming' Melody for being out past curfew or sitting on the curb, but we are making valid arguements that had her parents arranged to have her picked up on time, not let her go to the game in the first place, been with her if they had decided to let her go, hired a body guard to be with her in case they couldn't go, provided her with appropriate body armor to prevent a stray bullet from hitting her, instructed her properly to stay behind the school fence until her ride showed up, or instructed her to stand under a street lamp so that the shooter could see her adequately and not mistake her for a rival gang member, etc. --this wouldn't have happened, right? You see our points? I'm sure you can. Come on wow...we understand that no one can 'control' the actions of another and that's our point; not Melody for sitting in the wrong place at the wrong time, or leaving through 'that' gate, not the shooter who made it his mission to get back at a rival, or the parents for not ensuring their child was picked up prior to the game being over so that she wouldn't be caught in crossfire or a gang incident at the end of the game. Embarrassed? No, the Ross family should be embarrassed for filing this lawsuit and destroying any feeling of community support we had for them! We are just stating the obvious--we are simply disgusted.
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LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.
Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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