A civil rights lawsuit brought by a victim from the 2014 Isla Vista massacre has been moved from Los Angeles County to Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Originally filed in Los Angeles on June 23, 2015, UCSB student Keith Cheung alleges that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office violated his civil rights and was negligent by denying him proper medical treatment following the May 23, 2014, rampage by Elliot Rodger, who killed six people and injured 13 more.
In the lawsuit, Cheung says he was struck by Rodger’s BMW as Rodger fled from police.
Cheung was lodged in the windshield of the car when the deputy arrived and placed him in handcuffs for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, denying him proper medical treatment, Brian Kabateck, Cheung’s attorney, said.
Kabateck previously told the Sun that an emergency medical technician who arrived on the scene said the deputy must have mistaken Cheung as the shooter.
Meanwhile, Rodger was behind the wheel of the car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kabateck adds that the delay of medical attention caused his client to suffer a “lingering brain injury.”
Michael Ghizzoni, attorney for Santa Barbara County, said he couldn’t comment on ongoing litigation.
Other defendants include Rodger’s parents, Peter and Li Chin, the county of Santa Barbara, and UCSB.
According to the lawsuit, Cheung is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
This article appears in Feb 11-18, 2016.