Actress Demi Moore became the center of a wrongful death lawsuit following a tragic drowning incident at her Los Angeles home in July 2015. The case involved the death of 21-year-old Edenilson Steven Valle, who was found dead at the bottom of Moore’s swimming pool after a small party at her residence. The incident led to legal action that spans several years and involves multiple parties.
The tragedy occurred during a gathering at Moore’s Beverly Hills property when the actress was out of the country. Valle was discovered face down in the deep end of the pool after guests noticed he had been missing for about 10 to 15 minutes. Law enforcement sources reported that Valle had told fellow party guests that he did not know how to swim before the incident took place.
Moore expressed her devastation about the incident in a public statement. “I was out of the country traveling to meet my daughters, whom I share with ex-husband Bruce Willis, for a birthday celebration when I got this devastating news,” she told People, adding that she was “in absolute shock” over the “unthinkable tragedy.” The actress emphasized that the loss of a child is an unthinkable tragedy and that her heart went out to the young man’s family and friends.
Legal battle over pool safety conditions and Demi Moore’s role n the death
The legal proceedings began in February 2017 when Valle’s parents, Jorge and Maria Valle, filed a wrongful death lawsuit, adding Moore’s name to a list of celebrities who have faced serious legal challenges. Initially, the suit targeted the Tree House Trust that owns the property, along with Moore’s personal assistant, Bessy Wong, and house manager Lenny Hernandez, who allegedly hosted the party. Moore was later added as a defendant in May 2017, expanding the scope of the legal action.
The Valle family’s lawsuit claimed there were multiple dangerous conditions at the property that contributed to their son’s death. They alleged that the pool lacked proper depth markers despite being described as “excessively deep” at 9 to 10 feet. The suit also pointed to decorative rocks around the pool’s edge as potential tripping hazards and claims the pool’s temperature was dangerously high at 101 degrees, which could affect brain function.
According to court documents, the family argued that alcohol was served at the party in an unsafe environment. The lawsuit states that house manager Lenny Hernandez knew there was drinking that night and was serving alcohol at a party that was unsafe to host. Police photos of the backyard allegedly showed serious lighting issues and numerous decorative rocks placed randomly, creating what the plaintiffs describe as abundant trip hazards. The Valle family is sought damages of more than $25,000 in their wrongful death claim.
But in early January 2018, she and the Valle family reached a settlement. The details of the same were never publicly released, but the case was subsequently dismissed legally and apparently, from public memory as well.
