The city of Inglewood has been removed as a defendant from a lawsuit filed by a San Francisco 49ers fan who was assaulted at SoFi Stadium during the 2022 NFC championship game, resulting in the victim being put into a medically induced coma.
In new court documents filed on Thursday, Daniel Luna’s attorneys requested the dismissal of all claims against the city, stating that they can be refiled at a later date. It is unclear from the documents whether a settlement has been reached or if Luna is no longer pursuing the case against the city for other reasons.
A hearing was scheduled for August 30 before Judge Lisa Jaskol to consider the city’s motion to dismiss the two causes of action brought against it, alleging negligence by public employees and loss of consortium by Luna’s wife, Irene Sulencka. The city argued that both claims were “defective” and lacked grounds for relief.
In a previous development, Luna dropped Apex Security Group Inc. as a defendant on August 15.
When the lawsuit was initially filed on September 8, 2022, the Los Angeles Rams and Luna’s alleged assailant, Bryan Alexis Cifuentes, were among the defendants named. Cifuentes has maintained that his actions were in self-defense during the confrontation with Luna.
Luna and Sulencka amended their complaint on May 18, adding the city of Inglewood and Los Angeles County as defendants. The revised suit claimed that the city had a responsibility to provide designated areas, such as sobering cells or drunk tanks, for intoxicated individuals to be placed. It also held the city, along with all other defendants, accountable for Sulencka’s loss of consortium with her husband, which includes the loss of comfort, society, and companionship.
However, the city’s attorneys argue in court documents that the plaintiffs’ lawyers have failed to identify any statutory basis for direct liability against the city. They claim that the allegations made against the city are generic and lack supporting evidence.
The lawsuit originates from an altercation that occurred on January 30, 2022, while the Rams and 49ers were competing for a spot in Super Bowl LVI, ultimately won by the Rams.
Prosecutors state that Luna approached a group of people outside the stadium, leading to a confrontation where Cifuentes allegedly punched Luna, causing him to fall to the ground.
Luna, who was wearing a 49ers jersey, was discovered in the parking lot by a security guard and taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He was then placed in a medically induced coma due to facial and upper body injuries.
Shortly after the incident, Mayor James Butts of Inglewood revealed that surveillance footage showed a group of fans tailgating in Parking Lot L. According to Butts, Luna appeared to shove Cifuentes from behind, prompting Cifuentes to retaliate by striking Luna in the mouth area. Luna subsequently fell to the ground and was later found by security personnel who called for medical assistance.
Cifuentes was identified and arrested thanks to the surveillance video, which captured the license plate of a vehicle linked to him. People who knew Cifuentes claimed that Luna was the aggressor and appeared to be intoxicated.
Friends of Luna stated that he had traveled alone to Los Angeles for the game after other planned attendees canceled. Luna is the owner of Mistura, a Peruvian fusion restaurant in Oakland.
