http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030409/D7Q9N83G0.html

Pool Drowning Suit vs. Tommy Lee Begins

Apr 8, 9:14 PM (ET)

By LINDA DEUTSCH

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - Rock musician Tommy Lee testified Tuesday at the start of a civil trial over the drowning of a 4-year-old boy in his pool, saying all the children at his son's birthday party came with adults who should have been watching them.

"If they were alone it would be my problem. They weren't," said the former drummer for the band Motley Crue. He added that he kept an eye on his own two children at all times during the June 16, 2001, party during which Daniel Karven-Veres drowned.

Daniel's parents, actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, are seeking unspecified damages in a wrongful-death lawsuit against Lee, 40.

Attorney Thomas Girardi, who represents Daniel's parents, said in his opening statement that his clients had been unaware that their child would be swimming. There was one life jacket, and Lee gave it to his own son, Brandon, Girardi said.


Girardi said Lee planned the party at his Malibu home at the last minute because his estranged wife, actress Pamela Anderson, had a party for Brandon the week before.

"Mr. Lee decided to throw a party, too," Girardi said. "But this was a party for his pals. The pictures show guys with tattoos."

Lee's attorney James Baratta countered that the party was carefully planned, that Lee arranged for a magician, a petting zoo and a Buzz Lightyear character to entertain the 15 to 20 children.

"This was not a drinking party. ... This wasn't a Hollywood party. This was a children's party. Mr. Lee invited people who had children," Baratta said.

Girardi said Daniel's parents sent him to the party with a male caretaker, an exchange student from Germany. The tragedy occurred after the caretaker decided to leave the party and entrusted Daniel to another family's nanny, both lawyers said.

The German caregiver has disappeared and will not be a witness, they said.

I agree with Tommy. The German caretaker should've been watching the boy. It's the parents fault for sending the caretaker to the party with their son in the 1st place.

I don't hold the parents responsible as they had a caretaker watch their child. Parents hire sitters all the time.
The German caretaker is to blame as he abandoned his responsibilty when he turned the child over to the nanny.
I think the nanny holds the largest share of responsibility for the child's death as it happened directly under his/her watch.
The German caregiver and the nanny were wrong. Actually the German caregiver set off the dreadful chain of events.
I don't hold Tommy Lee responsible, but I will add that if I had his money and was having 15-20 small children in my pool, I'd think about hiring a lifeguard.
The parents are obviously going after the deepest pockets.

Originally posted by Janice
I don't hold Tommy Lee responsible, but I will add that if I had his money and was having 15-20 small children in my pool, I'd think about hiring a lifeguard.


I agree. That would've been the smart thing to do.

I think these people find it easy to blame Tommy Lee because of his reputation as the party-hearty bad boy drummer with Motley Crue and also with his spousal abuse deal with Pamela Anderson. It's convenient to point fingers and not blame ourselves.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030417/D7QFG55O1.html


Tommy Lee Cleared in Wrongful-Death Case

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) - A jury Thursday rejected a wrongful-death claim against rock drummer Tommy Lee for the drowning of a little boy during a children's birthday party at his home.

The Superior Court jury took less than three hours before returning the unanimous verdict in the lawsuit over the 2001 death of 4-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres at Lee's Malibu home.

The victim's parents, actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, sued Lee for wrongful death, accusing him of negligence for failing to have a lifeguard or someone trained in CPR present during the birthday party for Lee's son Brandon. Their lawyer, Thomas Girardi, had suggested a $10 million award.

Karven testified that she didn't know there would be swimming at the party, adding that she would have made sure Daniel brought his water wings.

Lee said he did everything he could to ensure the safety of his son's guests, including requiring that every child who attended have an adult there to supervise them.

Lee's attorney, James Baratta, said responsibility lay with the boy's parents, who did not accompany him to the party, and other people who were supposed to look out for Daniel.

The boy was sent to the party with a caretaker, a German exchange student who can no longer be located. When the caretaker left early to attend a concert, both sides said, he placed Daniel in the care of a nanny who was there to watch other children.

Lee is the former Motley Crue drummer who was once married to TV star Pamela Anderson. The couple had two sons, Brandon and Dylan.