Callahan & Blaine

A lawsuit filed on Monday alleges that Scott Dekraai wrongfully, carelessly, recklessly, wantonly, and unlawfully used a gun to shoot and kill Christy Lynn Wilson, a long time salon employee at Meritage Salon located in Seal Beach, California.  The lawsuit was filed by Ms. Wilson’s sole remaining heirs, including her husband, Paul Wilson, and their three children.

The suit — Paul Wilson, et. al. vs. Scott Dekraai (Filed in Orange County CA Superior Court, Case No.: 2011-00520873) — alleges that on October 12, 2011, Scott Dekraai, armed with guns, entered the Salon Meritage and opened fire on the employees and patrons inside.  Eight people were killed.  This is the largest mass murder in Orange County history.

The suit says that Scott Dekraai had been embroiled in a heated custody dispute over his son with ex-wife Michelle Fournier.  Michelle Fournier worked as a stylist at the salon. On the day of the shooting rampage, Scott Dekraai first took aim at his ex-wife who was styling the hair of her good friend and fellow salon employee, Christy Lynn Wilson, age 47.  Christy Lynn Wilson was the next to be shot.

The lawsuit alleges that Ms. Wilson lived for a period of time.

The lawsuit also alleges that Paul Wilson and his children will be deprived of the care, society and comfort of Christy Lynn Wilson and have been caused the loss of future services, earnings and protection of Christy Lynn Wilson.

According to Ed Susolik and Sarah Serpa of Callahan & Blaine, the lawsuit seeks compensatory damages to make up for the extensive loss resulting from the death of their wife and mother taken from them in the prime of her life.  Also, the lawsuit seeks punitive and exemplary damages to punish Scott Dekraai and hold him accountable for what the attorneys describe as “a detestable and senseless crime.”

“We cannot change the horrendous circumstances of what happened that day,” says Edward Susolik of Callahan & Blaine, Santa Ana, California, counsel for Paul Wilson and his children. “However, we can hold Scott Dekraai accountable with this legal process and hope that by doing so, justice will be served for this family and the families of the other victims.”

Paul Wilson, husband of victim Christy Lynn Wilson, said, “My kids no longer have a mother.  I no longer have a wife, best friend and soul mate.  We were married for 24 years and she was our world.  My life and my kids’ lives will never be the same. Somebody must be accountable and answer for that.”

Callahan & Blaine is California’s Premier Litigation Firm and one of the leading personal injury and business litigation firms in the state of California. In the last five years, Callahan & Blaine lawyers have obtained over $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for their clients. In 2007, Callahan & Blaine obtained a $50 million settlement in Neria v. City of Dana Point (Orange County, CA Superior Court, Case No. 06CC10395), which has been certified as the largest personal injury settlement in the history of the United States.  Based in Orange County, California, Callahan & Blaine handles personal injury and commercial/business litigation cases nationwide.