Emery Kauanui’s Father Files Suit Against Bird Rock Bandits & La Jolla Brewhouse
Justin Cote
- April 03 2009
- 4,515 views
- 38 comments
As reported on www3.signonsandiego.com
The father of a La Jolla surfer (above) who was fatally beaten during a fight filed a lawsuit yesterday against five young men involved and the bar where some in the group had been drinking.
In the suit, Emery Kauanui Sr. accuses the men of battery and wrongful death, stemming from the May 2007 death of his 24-year-old son, Emery Jr. The father also points a finger at the La Jolla Brew House, which he claims served alcohol to “obviously intoxicated” minors. Kauanui, who lives in Hawaii, is seeking unspecified damages.
Named in the lawsuit are Seth Cravens, 23; Eric House, 21; Orlando Osuna, 23; Matthew Yanke, 22; and Henri “Hank” Hendricks, 23.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am
super.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Good, violence is an issue when drinkin with stupid people like that,now a great surfer and person is gone and someone else should be accountable. Just still really too bad.
April 4th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Emery Sr. just got out of jail and has nothing better to do than point the finger at the world for not doing a better job at raising his son. If he wants to blame, blame himself for showing Jr. the wrong way to act and live. No Aloha came from this family and now there is some reaping going on. Those of us that know this family from way back, here on Kauai, have a hard time believing that something like this did not happen sooner. If you act like a punk sooner or later bad things will happen to you. Sr. was and is a unkind thug with know Aloha and I hope that he is not rewarded for his sons passing. Jr. was much nicer than his dad but had a thing for picking fights and causing drama. Please let it go and move on and we pray that big lessons were learned so other families do not have to go through this.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
ive surfed windansea and seen the little punks there start a fight. they were like a pack of terriers barking at your ankles. not to mention it was a weekend and there were a lot of families at the beach with their little children around next to the fight. what a show. i bet all those people really respect the surfers around there. maybe emery sr. had things coming to him, but the fact still remains that the punks in la jolla need to learn a lesson as well. stay classy san diego
May 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I just watched the story coverage on Dateline. I’m from far away but I think no matter what the circumstance if you kill someone you should be punished! My heart goes out to families that have lost a loved one.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Good. Hit them in the pocketbook. I hope there will be some justice. There must be consequences for MURDER.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:39 pm
All those that threw punches, kicks, whatever; should be just as guilty as the one who threw the last punch. They all should be punished. They went to the guy’s house with intent to harm. They are GUILTY and their attorney should be ashamed of herself. She must not have children.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
they got what they deserve
May 1st, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Not all of them I wish ALL of them received a jail sentence.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
It is absolutely rediculious that they only god probation. People get probation for selling some pot or DUI’s- not that either of those are good things but they are nowhere comparable to MURDER. It was a PLANNED out murder. Seths parents are complete fucking morons and they should go to jail as well for raising a kid to be like that… how pathetic that they would think he would actually not get charged. Whether Emery provoked them or not, the fing killed the kid. Its kinda sad that those kids are that stupid, immature, and obviously little b***hes. You should all rot in prison.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Just watched first hour of the show on Dateline, then had to leave for work. It shows what kind of a man the elder Emery is, since it is obvious he never did anything to support his boys and it was left to the mother to raise and support them. Now he wants to make money off of his dead son, and to me, that is so completely sad and tragic. That poor Emery kid probably wasn’t perfect, but all he did was spill his beer for God’s sake, and then he tried to smooth it over by doing the same thing to himself. I feel so bad that he had to die for something so stupid and he didn’t have a chance against five big guys. You can see in Seth Cravens’ eyes that he has no conscience or remorse, and 20 years to life is a good thing, and probably should have been more. The other guys getting probation was a slap in the face to Emery. They had a hand in killing someone. The way I see it though is this—Emery Jr. is now in a place where fathers don’t forsake their sons and friends don’t kill friends. Aloha Emery—I know you surf in paradise now.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Once again this gang are such cowards it takes a group of them to act like jerks. As some of the writers- I knew some of them and they were idiot jerks. All the “bandits” should golive in prison and see how tough they are there. Especially Seth. He could be in charge of picking up the soap, if you know what I mean.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
They all looked like punks, and cried like cowards at their trials. A real gang from Chicago or New York would have gone heads up with these guys and made fly away like Bird Rock pansies. What stupid name for a stupid group.
Those of you who watched Dateline: it kind of proves that money cannot buy brains and that brains do not follow the family tree.
What a bunch of Bird Rock Cowards!
May 1st, 2009 at 11:01 pm
seth stuck his finger up my brothers ass once.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:19 pm
are you serious?
May 1st, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I seen the dateline show and my hear goes out to the family. I know that it happened a couple years ago but you dont just get over something like that. God bless you!
May 1st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
*heart
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 am
I watch the dateline show tonite. A kinda stupid for Seth for not doing the plea. I think it is his right. But how can he act so innocent and stupid. Seth knows he did something wrong.But he thinks too that he can get away with it. Too bad. The judge is very good. He offered them the second chance but Seth has an ego. He
refused. He should have humble it down.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
There is a good lesson to be learned here. This is a tragic loss of life that never should have happened. Seth Cravens’ victims’ should have reported his assaults on them, and not waited for someone to die before coming forward to terstify about the crimes. By not reporting the crimes until it was too late, they sent out a mesaage to Seth that he could brutally assault and terrorize people and get away with it.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 am
R.I.P Emery what a sad story. Its a shame the other boys got off lightly. They should have gotten gange enhancement but if they were black or hispanic or had tattoos it would be a different story…. But no there from a pussy peacefull la jolly paradise. This is a bunch of b.s call it what it is MURDER! God will be the final judge!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
So true
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 am
Seth and his wannabe clones are killers. I don’t care if you are in the backstreet slums of Detroit or surrounded by perfectly edged lawns in upper middle class “La Jolla”; through the barrel of a gun or a punch in the face….murder is murder. What were they standing up for? What values were they defending that could justify taking the life of another human. Answer: none. They marched around chest thumping marking their territory at trendy La Jolla brewhouses convinced of their own superiority. Seth Cravens has no soul, it is evident in his actions and his pathetically casual apology….an obvious attempt to reduce his prison sentence. These self proclaimed “bird rock bandits” belong in a bird house for a very long time….and the master bird should sit in his cage for the rest of his life.
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:29 am
That jerk Seth deserves the worst. He’s been a bully and he should pay. Hitting people like he did to SEVERAL others is unacceptable. Maybe others will learn from this.
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:23 am
Every last one of the privileged gangesters should be sitting in jail. Five grown men against one man in a fight Emery did’nt have a chance. Shame on that judge!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Souds more like Seth had his head up his own ass!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
I FOUND IT STRANGE THAT NOT ONCE IN THE 2 HOUR DATELINE SHOW WAS THE FATHER MENTIONED…..”KIMO” IN KAUAI’ SAYS THE FATHER, EMERY SR., JUST GOT OUT OF JAIL….FOR? EMERY’S MOTHER OBVIOUSLY STILL HAS “TIES” THERE….SHE WAS IN KAUAI WHEN IT HAPPENED……
ANYBODY KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS FAMILY? TOO BAD SHE DIDN’T KEEP HER FAMILY ON THE ISLAND…..MAYBE THIS BEAUTIFUL BOY WOULD STILL WALK THE BEACH THERE…..ALOHA TO THE MOM & BROTHER
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
After watching the program on television last night, I blame the entire community. I am a high school teacher on the other side of the country. If these men committed prior crimes, they should have been handed fitting punishments years ago for these crimes to teach a lesson. Perhaps, had this happened, five young men to include Emery, would be living a full life today. Justice was certainly not served. Previous victims who did not press charges when “victimized” and others in La Jolla, California that claim to have known these young men to be abusive and stood by to allow them to “bully” all share culpability. Too many lives were taken with this tragedy. A message was certainly sent, but it should have been sent a long time ago for these boys.
I have asked this question over and over again, if Emery alerted people these “bandits” were on their way, at his out, he was in danger, when were the police called? Why is this message not sent? These were deviant behaviors indeed, but no one involved the police until a death was taken, why???
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
I was very touched by this story. My heart goes out to this Emery’s Mother! I have an almost 21 year old son who actually looks like Emery, which I think is why I was so touched by the story! My son is half Puerto Rican and is very athletic and is very outgoing like it appears Emery was.
I am very surprised the attorney didn’t make more of a point to say that THESE 5 “boys” went to EMERY’S HOUSE!!! If Emery was the agressor the defense attorney tried to portray……HE WOULD NOT HAVE SPILLED THE DRINK ON HIMSELF IN THE BAR TO TRY TO MAKE LITE OF THE SITUATION!!
THESE BULLIES DROVE TO HIS HOUSE AND GANGED UP ON HIM!!! If Emery was the aggressor he would have done something at the bar!
I think its appalling that the other four got such lite sentences to mainly probation…..its sickening actually.
Thank God justice was served to Seth Cravens…….hopefully there are some bigger badder bullies in jail that can help justify what he did! An eye for an eye. And even that thought can’t undo what was done for this poor up and coming surfer.
My heart goes out to the Mother and Emery’s brother.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I agree. The sentences should be more equitable.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I watched this show with my young boys 8 and 11. There is a big lesson that others will learn even if the participants themselves remain in denial. “A companion of fools suffers harm.”
Your friends impact you even if you yourself aren’t like them.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Seth has no soul…You are exactly right. What he had to say after the verdict was pitiful. That empty dead look in his eyes ….scary.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
I just saw this on tv.And I am so bothered by it and so sickened that young adults can act this way and The boys said “he was there friend.”What the hell is that???? Drugs or alcohol is no excuse for Stupidity.I hope Seth fries in Prison and hopes he understands what a disgrace he is to humanbeings.He should be an animal caged in a zoo.Emery seemed to be an Outstanding human being and it is a tragedy to lose him.Especially to a senseless act at the hands of a oversize brute.I truely hope these boys get what they deserve and my heart goes out to Emery’s Family!!!
Fl
May 4th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Basically your saying that Emery was a Punk and he got what he deserved.. 1st off Emery was no punk and yes he was a brawler but I tell you no one fought with more honor next to my side than that boy did. He backed his shit up just like a real man would and handle it 1 by 1. Maybe if it would have been one dude fighting him than yes he got what he desreved but it was 5 mother fkers (5) get that ish through your thick melon. West Coast! Kaui boi not no pussy.If he was such a punk why do you think so many people loved him from coast to coast?Your just another mark ass hater that runs his lips like they got legs..
May 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I agree 100%
May 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
It’s a shame that the good people are the ones who get beat.
From the piece done on Emery Kauanuis, he seemed to be a great human being, the type we need more of in this world.
This story really put some things into perspective with my life,
however, young Emery should never have had to set the example and pay the ultimate price.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Jr, and I hope the cowardly thugs rot in hell.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Seriously, there’s no way you can be from Hawaii “Kimo”… or if you really are living here, you are straight haole and should go back to where you came from. How dare you say no aloha comes from this family? Everyone here knows and respects this family, A LOT of aloha comes from them… if none came your way, I guarantee you did something to deserve that.
We Hawaiians don’t pick fights and cause drama, we just don’t back down to loud-mouth disrespectful idiots like you. We got pride, and we were raised to defend ourselves and each other. Emery was a friend and a good boy with a good heart. Everyone from here also knows that kids raised in Hawaii are raised by their parents and the whole community… so once again, if you got a problem with the way he was raised, you got a problem with all of us, so get the fuck off our land.
I’m hoping that this suit does go through, so that there is at least some sentiment that a little justice has been served. Otherwise, God help us, I promise that other Hawaiians will feel the need to exact some vengeance directly on these guys… I’m not condoning it or saying its right, in fact I dread the trouble that they will get themselves in, but it would certainly be righteous.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Em DID have a chance against them. He had the pride and balls to step up and not back down to getting called out by a bunch of stupid haole f-cks. And he DID hold his own til the end of the fight… the last punch that Seth threw, Emery had already licked all of em and had his hands down… the fight was over. Seth is just a little bitch who false cracked someone who was clearly done fighting and was still on his feet.
Don’t try to comment on Emery’s father either. Emery’s father raised him right. He knew when to stop, after he had clearly proven that he COULD take all of those punks. He didn’t need to kill anyone, we fight for pride, not death. Nothing will ever bring back Papa Kauanui’s son, but damn straight he should sue them all… We should all try our damndest to ruin the lives of these stupid assholes that got off waaaay too light, the way that they ruined so many lives by taking away our friend Em.
May 20th, 2009 at 4:13 am
I think it would be wrong to assume that Emery was totally innocent. I also think this group of guys should have been classified as a gang. I’m pretty sure any group of underpriviledged kids in Compton would have all gotten the whole shitlist thrown at them. Unforetunately, none of the above people learned anything from this since they are already all talking about brawling again. People get hurt in fights, and die. That’s why its not good. Why does everyone have to act so tough? Poor dude is dead and you aren’t even flinching at starting another fight.