WEST HOLLYWOOD—Federal Judge Cormac J. Carney refused to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit against prominent Democratic donor and LGBTQ advocate Ed Buck for the death of Gemmel Moore, 26, on Wednesday, September 11.

The lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother LaTisha Nixon accuses Buck of human trafficking and engaging in “revenge porn” by distributing his home made videos of his “meth fueled sexual encounters” with the victim. The suit is seeking damages for sexual battery, drug dealer liability, negligence per se, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress and hate violence. The lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount for punitive damages and attorney fees.

Attorney Hussein Turk who represents the plaintiff stated, “The court generously ruled that Ms. Nixon may rewrite portions of her claims against the county so that they more clearly describe the constitutional civil rights laws that the county violated when it failed to properly investigate Gemmel Moore’s death because of his race.”

Moore’s mother alleges that Buck lured her son from Houston, Texas where she and her son resided to Los Angeles for the purpose of engaging in “commercial” sex acts.

Her son died of a methamphetamine overdose at Buck’s West Hollywood home in 2017. Moore was one of the first individuals to die at Buck’s home in less than 18 months. The coroner determined that Moore’s death was accidental.

The second man to be found dead at Buck’s home was Timothy Dean, 55, who died in January 2019 of an accidental methamphetamine overdose at Buck’s home. It took Buck 15 minutes to call 911 after he discovered Dean’s body on his living room floor. Dean’s death was also ruled as accidental.

Last summer prosecuting attorneys declined to file charges against Buck in the wrongful death case due to insufficient evidence. Dean’s death remains under investigation.

On July 3, 2019, the wrongful death complaint was amended to include that Buck allegedly “solicits sex from black men in exchange for temporary housing and/or monetary compensation.”

The case was initially filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, but was moved to the federal court in May. In the revised complaint both Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum are named as co-defendants for allegedly violating Moore’s civil rights, and failure to prosecute Buck.