Sotos expected to file lawsuit

Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- The parents of a 4-year-old girl who was killed while

playing at a day-care center last May are expected to file a lawsuit

today alleging the driver and preschool operators were partially to blame

for the tragedy, attorneys said.

After much contemplation, Eric and Cindy Soto made the decision to seek

damages resulting from the death of their daughter, Sierra.

Cindy Soto said she will donate most of the proceeds from any judgment to

Sierra’s Light Foundation, the nonprofit organization she created to

improve safety guidelines at day-care centers and preschools.

Named in the lawsuit are the South Coast Early Childhood Learning Center,

the Lighthouse Coastal Community Church that owns the property, and

40-year-old Steven Allen Abrams, who reportedly drove his 1967 Cadillac

through a playground fence, killing Sierra and 3-year-old Brandon Wiener

and injuring five others.

Abrams has been charged with two counts of murder and awaits trial.

The Sotos, who are divorced, said their reasoning for the lawsuit was to

prevent similar tragedies from happening.

Still, many in the community were shocked when the Wiener family filed a

similar lawsuit in January, days after a memorial plaque for the tots was

dedicated at the day-care center. At the time, Soto said she, too, was

stunned by the Wieners’ decision.

In a letter released Tuesday, the Sotos acknowledged there are “certain

basic, cost efficient, remedial measures that could help prevent this

type of tragedy from occurring again.” They pointed out that a concrete

wall erected after the incident may have prevented the death of their

child if it had been built beforehand.

Soto said she consulted friends and family, contemplating the possible

backlash and outrage from the community. She says she hopes her

intentions will not be misinterpreted.

When contacted Tuesday night, Sheryl and Rande Hawkinson, who run the

day-care center, were disappointed about the Sotos’ decision and referred

any further questions to their attorney.

The Sotos and their attorneys will speak more about their lawsuit at a

press conference scheduled for Thursday.