Chain | Cohn | Clark marks one-year anniversary of David Silva wrongful death

Chain | Cohn | Clark on Thursday morning released a statement to local media marking the one-year anniversary of the wrongful death of David Silva. The Bakersfield personal injury law firm is representing the family of Silva.

UPDATE: Several media outlets covered the one-year anniversary and protests. See them below.

The news release is as follows:

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May 8, 2014

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Family, attorney mark one-year anniversary of wrongful death of David Silva

Bakersfield, Calif. (May 8, 2014) – On the night of May 7, 2013, David S. Silva was asleep in front of a home in east Bakersfield, across from Kern Medical Center. Several law enforcement officers arrived on scene and proceeded to use unreasonable and excessive force in striking Silva with batons several times all over his body, while he screamed for his life and repeatedly begged the officers to stop. After being repeatedly beaten, bitten and hog-tied, Silva stopped breathing.

Shortly after midnight, Silva was taken to Kern Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“Today marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic and unfortunate death of David Silva at the hands of local law enforcement from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol,” said David K. Cohn, managing partner with Chain | Cohn | Clark, who is representing the Silva family. “Although disappointed, we were not surprised by District Attorney Lisa Green’s decision several weeks ago to not pursue criminal charges against these officers. That being said, we remain committed to obtaining justice on behalf of David and his entire family, especially his four children, who will be without a father for the rest of their lives.”

He continued: “The road to obtaining justice will be a difficult one; however, we are confident that in the end, the truth will prevail and justice will be done. This case is certainly about David Silva and about what happened to him, but it is also about much more than that. It is about changing the culture of local law enforcement in this community, and holding law enforcement officers who use unreasonable and excessive force accountable for their actions.”

Attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark will be in attendance and support the family of David Silva as they hold a rally at 4 p.m. today at the Liberty Bell outside of Kern County Superior Court, on the corner of Truxtun and Chester avenues.

Chain | Cohn | Clark has filed a civil rights lawsuit in connection with the wrongful death of David Silva. The lawsuit arises out of an incident at the intersection of Flower Street and Palm Street in Bakersfield, when David Silva died as a result of unreasonable and excessive force used by six Sheriff’s deputies, a sergeant, and two California Highway Patrol officers. The complaint seeks damages on behalf of David’s four young children, his significant other, his parents and his brother, for the loss of love, affection, society, service, comfort, support, right of support, expectations of future support and counseling, companionship, solace and mental support, as well as other benefits and assistance of Silva.

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1430 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 100 – Bakersfield, CA – 93301 – Phone: 661-323-4000

CHAIN | COHN | CLARK is Kern County’s leading plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm. Our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys have represented clients from throughout the San Joaquin Valley and California for 80 years. We concentrate our efforts on protecting the rights of individuals who have been seriously injured due to the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another. If you have been injured due to the fault of another, you have the right to hold that person or entity accountable, no matter how rich or powerful that person or entity may be. At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we pride our Bakersfield law firm on having the reputation and resources necessary to overcome the most difficult challenges while achieving the best possible results for our clients.

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NEWS COVERAGE

KERO-23 (ABC): Silva family attorneys release statement on anniversary of David Silva’s death

KERO-23 (ABC): One year since David Silva died after confrontation with deputies

KERO-23 (ABC): Family marks one year anniversary of David Silva’s death with courthouse rally

New America Media/South Kern Sol: On Anniversary of David Silva Slaying, Protesters Demand Justice

KBAK/KBFX (Fox): Family says justice hasn’t been served for in-custody death