Family of Victor Perez files wrongful death lawsuit against Pocatello

POCATELLO — The family of Victor Perez has found legal representation and has started the process of filing a lawsuit against the city of Pocatello.

Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy (BNCL), a civil rights law firm from Oakland, California, announced through a news release on April 16 that it was now representing the family of the 17-year-old disabled teenager who was shot nine times by multiple Pocatello Police officers, which ultimately led to his death. The firm has filed a Claim of Wrongful Death and Civil Rights Violations against the city.

“The family wanted the police to help their son, not kill him. The officers’ conduct shocks the conscience of all families needing assistance with developmentally disabled kids,” says John Burris in the press release.

Burris has represented a variety of high-profile individuals, including Rodney King, Tupac Shakur and the family of Oscar Grant.

Additionally, Bannock County released a news release the same day announcing that Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner ordered a forensic autopsy for Victor Perez as part of his medicolegal death investigation, which was completed on Monday. The coroner’s office will not release further information on the case, due to the ongoing investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce.

The law firm will hold a community meeting Wednesday evening, starting 6 p.m. at Gate City Coffee at 320 W. Center Street, Pocatello, Idaho.

EastIdahoNews.com spoke with Attorney James Cook who explained what drew the firm to Perez’s case.

“We sleep and breathe this type of case. We do hundreds of cases like this every year and it’s our expertise,” Cook said. “The people who work for the firm, this is what they live to do.”

Cook explained that cases like this take years to be resolved, saying that it could be three to five years or even more until this case is closed.

According to Cook, the purpose of the. meeting is to answer questions about their firm, as well as about the ongoing legal process. Cook added that they’ll also talk to people about similar experiences they may have had with police officers, and offer information on how to have them consider their own cases.

“I think people just want to ask questions. Like, they want to know, ‘who the hell are these people from out of town, from San Francisco,’ and we’ll answer those questions, and we’ll also just answer general questions about how the litigation works,” Cook explained.

EastIdahoNews.com requested a statement from the city, but did not receive a response in time for the publication of this article.