Radio show: CCS managing partner speaks on Silva wrongful death case

CCS Managing Partner David Cohn on Saturday was a special guest on a national radio show to discuss the ongoing wrongful death case involving David Silva.

To listen to the hour-long interview, which also features the brother of David Silva — Chris Silva — press play on the player above, or CLICK HERE.

The two were the guests of Jacque DelRio, who hosts the radio show, Chicano Chronicles. The program is featured by the Progressive Democrats of America, a political organization that works inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice.

The focus of Saturday’s program was an ongoing wrongful death case involving David Silva, brought by Bakersfield personal injury law firm. Here’s a synopsis on that case:

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.

On the one-year anniversary of the event, veteran personal injury attorney David Cohn — who is representing the family of David Silva — released the following statement:

“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. 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. 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.”

Chain | Cohn | Clark 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.

Since Silva’s death, family members and other supporters have been rallying for justice. Among the most outspoken is David Silva’s brother, Chris, who was also a guest on the radio show.

Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 “to transform the Democratic Party and our country.” The group seeks to build a party and a government controlled by citizens, not corporate elites, with policies that serve the broad public interest, not just private interests.