All over but the shoutin’

Victim’s family in Bourne/Walker case files civil suit

Now that the criminal phase of the sex case against Joseph T. Walker has been settled, a civil complaint against Walker and the Estate of Dr. Andrew C. Bourne was filed in Santa Barbara Superior Court on March 14 by the victim’s family.

Walker, 48, pled guilty to five multiple felony counts regarding improper lewd conduct and sex with a minor in Santa Barbara Superior Court on March 9.

The girl, now 16, was 14 when her relationship with Walker began.

According to the criminal complaint, the girl subsequently began a sexual relationship with Dr. Bourne.

Walker is expected to serve five years in state prison beginning June 1.

Bourne committed suicide on Jan. 24, less than three weeks after his arrest.

Santa Barbara-based Attorney R. Chris Kroes spoke with The Sheet about the civil complaint on Tuesday.

Kroes said the family is not permitted to ask for a specific amount in a personal injury complaint, but he did note that his client will “need psychiatric care for who knows how long.”

“It’s an imperfect system,” he continued. “The family would prefer the whole thing never happened.”

Barring the invention of a time machine, however, monetary damages will remain the currency of choice in personal injury cases.

Sheet: Is the family happy with Walker’s five-year prison sentence?

Kroes: They would have preferred thirty years … he’s going to miss one ski season.

*Technically, with good behavior, Walker would serve a minimum of two-and-a-half years, so he would miss two ski seasons, but … you get the point. 

The plaintiff asks for:

-General and special damages

-Consequential and out-of-pocket damages

-Prejudgment interest on damages awarded

-Costs of suit incurred

-Attorneys fees

-Punitive damages

A lot of the focus in the 10-page civil complaint relates to the emotional stress inflicted upon not only the victim, but the victim’s parents.

As bullet point #52 states: Defendants Walker and Bourne, well knowing Jane Doe to be the daughter of the plaintiff parents, did wrongfully and unlawfully, contriving and intending to injure, disgrace, distress and wound the feelings of plaintiff parents, and deprive them of the affection and society of Jane Doe, and to dishonor plaintiffs and their family, and did willfully and maliciously entice and persuade Jane Doe to have illicit sexual intercourse.