QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — The seven suspects accused of murdering a Valley teen back in October are now facing a civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s family.
The parents of 16-year-old Preston Lord also named some of the teen suspects' parents and the homeowners where a Halloween party took place that was reportedly attended by hundreds of kids — the same party Lord was leaving when he was brutally attacked and later died from his injuries.
The attorney representing Lord’s parents sent 12News the following statement:
“The Lord Family seeks justice and accountability for all those who contributed to Preston’s death. This lawsuit brings them one step closer to achieving that goal. They are grateful for the community support and are determined to see this through to the end.”
Blake Mayes, longtime attorney and founding partner for MayesTelles Attorneys, does not represent the family, but after he looked over the 14 page complaint he felt the Lord family makes a strong case.
“It's absolutely a lawsuit that I think is valid, on its face,” Mayes said.
Even though it was filed before the criminal trials set to start next year, Mayes said it was not too early to file the wrongful death lawsuit.
“There are circumstances where I think it's appropriate to wait. I don't think this is one of those circumstances,” Mayes said.
Mayes said if the suspects were found guilty at trial, it would make a stronger case for civil litigation. However, with some of the claims dealing with statute of limitations that last only a year, he believes attorneys did not want to take the risk of waiting.
The lawsuit not only goes after the teens, but some of their parents, including Talan Renner’s.
The complaint accuses Renner's parents of negligence. The suit alleges that the Renners should have known their son had "a propensity to engage in violence and inflict physical harm upon others."
The lawsuit cites three separate incidents that took place before the 2023 party that attorneys argue Renner's parents should have been aware of:
In approximately 2017-2018, while a fifth-grade student in the Gilbert Unified School District, Renner threatened to “shoot up” his school.
In approximately 2019-2021, Renner was involved in either a fight or bullying incident while a student at Sossaman Middle School, within the Higley Unified School District.
Most recently, between March 2022 and March 2023, Talan Renner, while a resident at the Diamond Ranch Academy residential treatment center in Hurricane, Utah, assaulted another resident, thereby inflicting serious physical injury upon the other resident.
According to Google, Diamond Ranch Academy helps kids 12 to 18 years old with anger management issues. It closed in March 2023.
"Parents are actually strictly liable for tortious acts of their children, even intentional acts," Mayes said.
However, he added if the Renner’s did send Talan to a treatment center it may help their case in this lawsuit.
"If it's a situation where he came out of the facility and, you know, panacea, and he's cured, then that's one thing,” Mayes said. “Maybe that's mitigating.”
Then, there’s the home where everything reportedly got out of hand and allegedly led to Lord getting attacked.
The lawsuit goes after the homeowners where, according to court documents, Lord went to a party that had been advertised on social media as “Halloween Rager.” A statement in the advertisement stated “Halloween Costume Rager… Open Invite… Alc [Alcohol] provided first come first serve.”
The complaint estimates that up to 200 people attended the party, including adults and juveniles.
The homeowner Roberto Correa and his wife, Emily Correa, were allegedly there according to the lawsuit and negligent by both providing alcohol to minors and by failing to ensure those who attended the party at their home were not injured at the party or when leaving.
Mayes said Arizona has state laws that deal with situations like this.
“If you have a house party and your adult friends come over and they drink and one of them leaves and hurts somebody in a DUI accident or something, they cannot be held liable under statute,” he said.
However, that only applies to adults who are legally allowed to drink alcohol.
“[The Correas] either furnished or knowingly allowed somebody else to furnish alcohol to minors on their property. Not only is that a class one misdemeanor in Arizona, so it is a crime, but I do think that they do have some civil liability there,” Mayes said.
12News attempted to contact the Correa’s for comment on the lawsuit but did not receive a response.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
UP TO SPEED
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.