Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey. Image Source: Entertainment Weekly 

Actress Naya Rivera’s passing away was confirmed on 13th July 2020 five days after she was reported missing during a trip to the Southern California Lake along with her 6-year-old son, Josey. Now, according to reports, her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey who had filed a lawsuit against Ventura County has settled the lawsuit.

Ryan Dorsey filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Naya and his son Josey and the lawsuit argued that Naya Rivera’s death was preventable and mentioned that the boat she and Josey rented from Lake Piru did not have the proper features and equipment which was necessary to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard safety standards. While Ventura County Officials argued that the actress was offered a live vest which she refused to wear.

The family of the late actress also shared that the son who was on the boat with Naya tried to find a rope to help his mother but couldn’t find one on the boat and eventually saw her mother drowning in the lake. They said in a statement, “Josey searched in vain for a rope to help his mother get back on the boat. Josey then looked back at the water for his mother and saw that Naya had disappeared. Josey yelled for help and cried alone in the boat until he was found more than an hour later by a PMC boat leasing agent.”

Lawyer Amjad M. Khan who is representing the Rivera family said in a statement to People Magazine, "Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru. Though the tragic loss of Josey's mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy.” The lawyer lastly added that the settlement is "subject to approval by the Ventura Superior Court on March 16.”

Naya Rivera with her son Josey. Image Source: LA Times 

The actress who played Santana Lopez on ‘Glee’ passed away due to accidental drowning during a boat excursion at Lake Piru and the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the actress’ ex-husband also stated that the lake has a deadly history. They claimed that since the lake has a ‘deadly history’, why weren’t there any warning signs put up for the people to know about the strong currents, low visibility, high winds, changing water depths, underwater caves, ledges, and drop-offs, or the trees, brush and other debris that congest its waters due to the vastly changing water levels and winds?

According to the data collected post-Naya’s death at Lake Piru, there have been more than two dozen people who have drowned in Lake Piru since 1959. Naya Rivera’s body was found in the lake on 13th July 2020 while she was presumed dead by 9th July 2020 by the authorities. Naya’s autopsy reports ruled out the cause of her death as accidental drowning and during the investigation, it was assumed that she saved her son Josey as he was found on the boat sleeping.

Naya Rivera played Santana Lopez on 'Glee'. Image Source: Vanity Fair 

The actress was laid to rest on 24th July 2020 and the world mourned for her death as no one could believe that she was no more here to spread her light. Ryan Dorsey who was married to the actress from 2014 to 2018 broke his silence on his ex-wife’s death by sharing an emotional tribute on his social media where he wrote, “This is so unfair... there's not enough words to express the hole left in everyone's hearts. I can't believe this is life now. I don't know if I'll ever believe it. You were just here...We were just in the back swimming with Josey the day before. Life just isn't fair."

The responsible father who took over the duties expressed his pain and hurt on Naya’s would have been 35th birthday by sharing an emotional post on social media as he wrote, "Made the visit today to see you, to spend some time. Up the hill I went, memories flashing through my mind as I drive. Approaching where you rest, bouquet of daisies and baby breath. Trying to hold it together, feeling all I feel, eyes getting wet still can't believe it's real… Nobody knows…why. Why you had to leave us behind. I hope it gets easier as time goes by, but forever is forever, and I'll never know why. Able to finally look at a couple videos today, I guess you can say I'm doing better…but better is just a better word for forever sad, this s— is unbelievable forever."

The details of the settlement of the lawsuit have not yet been disclosed.