The parents of a motorcyclist killed in a traffic collision filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles against the driver of a car involved in the crash.
The family of Nick Trela allege that Justin Mikita “recklessly” caused the death of the 23-year-old man, who was engaged to a daughter of actress Kirstie Alley.
Attempts to reach a representative for Mikita for comment were unsuccessful.
The complaint, filed in Superior Court, states that at about 5 p.m. Nov. 19, Trela was driving his 1976 Honda motorcycle westbound on Los Feliz Boulevard towards the intersection of Los Feliz Boulevard and Catalina Street at the same time Mikita was driving his Audi eastbound on Los Feliz Boulevard, approaching the same intersection from the opposite direction.
According to the lawsuit, rather than reaching the center of the intersection and waiting to safely turn left onto Catalina, Mikita cut the corner of Catalina and recklessly and illegally turned left in front of Nicholas, who was proceeding straight on Los Feliz Boulevard and had the right- of-way.
Mikita — who is married to “Modern Family” cast member Jesse Tyler Ferguson — collided into Nicholas’ motorcycle, “causing him to suffer catastrophic injuries which led to his death,” the suit contends.
The complaint further alleges that 29-year-old Mikita’s conduct was “negligent and reckless and done with a conscious and willful disregard for public safety.”
Mikita, a lawyer, is also a producer and actor, said Trela family attorney Brian Panish.
— City News Service