A federal jury in Los Angeles has awarded $2 million in damages to Latisha Nixon, the mother of Jemele Moore, a black gay man who died after being administered a fatal dose of methamphetamine during a “party-and-play” sex session with prominent Democratic donor Ed Buck.
After two days of testimony and eight jurors deliberating for about an hour, testimony was returned. unanimous verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit.
“I miss my son every day,” Nixon said in a statement. “This sentence won’t bring him back, but… it means closure for me. It means I can fully grieve now. I couldn’t grieve. I’ve been in fight mode for eight years.”
Moore died of a methamphetamine overdose in July 2017 at Buck’s West Hollywood apartment. Buck was later convicted in 2021 on nine federal drug charges related to the 26-year-old’s death and the similar methamphetamine-related overdose of another man, Timothy Dean, 55, in the same apartment in January 2019.
In 2022, the bag is declared He was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for supplying Moore and Dean with lethal doses of methamphetamine. His conviction was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2024.
Mr. Nixon’s lawyer, Nana Gyamfi, said the verdict in the wrongful death lawsuit recognized the harm done to Mr. Moore and his family.
Mr. Nixon’s other lawyer, Hussein Turk, said the case raised broader questions about liability and exploitation, the newspaper reported. WeHo online.
“Today’s ruling sets a precedent,” Turk said in a statement. “This ruling will hold Ed Buck accountable, and it will hold West Hollywood accountable for its history of turning a blind eye to the exploitation of the most marginalized members of the gay community in the name of ‘partying’ and ‘sexual freedom.’
“You could also say that your money and power are no longer a defense against plunder,” Turk continued. “May this verdict serve as a wake-up call to the entire gay community. It is time for us to take responsibility for ourselves and each other, to love ourselves, and to collectively and individually heal from the shame and isolation that continues to create monsters like Edward Bach.”
Journalist Jasmine Cannick, whose reporting has brought attention to the case and is credited with putting pressure on police to investigate Mr Bach, also commented on the verdict.
“Ed Buck has already served time for his actions, but prison was a way for the United States to hold him accountable,” Cannick said in a statement. “This verdict is about a jury holding Jemele Moore accountable to his mother. Ed Buck has been a donor and insider in Los Angeles Democratic politics for years while vulnerable black men were being harmed in their own homes.” Today’s verdict is an important reminder that no one can escape responsibility through political affiliation or political funding. Jemele Moore’s life mattered and his family deserved their day in court.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
