The family of Ankush Gupta is suing Wayne Black for Maryland wrongful death. Black, 21, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Gupta’s drowning. Now, the victim’s loved ones are seeking $5 million in damages. Gupta was 22.
Prosecutors say that in 2008, Black asked Gupta, who had stopped at Inner Harbor on his way to Montgomery County with friends, for a cigarette before shoving him into the water and running off. Gupta, who could not swim, drowned. The two men did not know each other.
Black eventually confessed that it was he who pushed Gupta and he was originally charged with first-degree murder. As part of his plea agreement, Black is to be sentenced to four years behind bars.
Gupta’s family, however, believes that Black’s prison punishment is not enough. They reportedly had been hoping that Black would be convicted for murder. Now, they are suing him for Baltimore wrongful death.
Maryland Wrongful Death
If you lost a family member in an accident because of another party’s negligent, careless, or reckless acts you may have reason to file a Maryland wrongful death complaint. Your case would be separate from any criminal proceedings and the outcomes of both cases are unrelated. This means that even if the person you believe was responsible for your loved one’s death is found not guilty or convicted to a lesser charge than what you believe is warranted, you may still be able to hold the person responsible in civil court.
A Baltimore County wrongful death case allows loved ones to pursue monetary damages from the party they believe caused the loss of their loved one. Damages can include medical bills, lost benefits, lost future income, the plaintiff’s emotional distress, pain, and suffering, loss of companionship, and other losses.
$5M Lawsuit Filed In Harbor Death Case, WBALTV, August 30, 2011
Man pleads guilty to pushing stranger into Inner Harbor, Baltimore Sun, July 28, 2011
More Blog Posts:
$40M Baltimore Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Fatal Maryland Motorcycle Crash Involving High-Speed Police Pursuit, Maryland Accident Law Blog, April 16, 2011
$5M Maryland Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Man’s Wrongful Death, Maryland Accident Law Blog, March 21, 2011
Kathy Wone Settles $20M Washington DC Wrongful Death Lawsuit with Three Men Linked to Her Husband’s Dupont Circle Murder, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, August 3, 2011