Photo by Felix Adamo Attorney David Cohn looks down at Sonya Gonzales as she remembers her son, Alexis Soberanis, who died from injuries suffered in a golf cart accident. Photo by Felix Adamo Alexis Soberanis, at about 15 years old.

Teen's death spurs suit BY SHELLIE BRANCO, Californian staff writer e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com Friday, Feb 9 2007 10:35 PM The family of a developmentally disabled teen who died in a golf cart accident has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Kern High School District. Alexis Soberanis, 18, died from injuries suffered in an accident on Oct. 20 at Vista West Continuation High School, his family's lawyer, David Cohn, said. Just how the accident happened is disputed by attorneys for each side. Soberanis died on Oct. 27 at Kern Medical Center. He was the sole occupant of a golf cart that hit a parked pickup at about 5 mph, according to Kern County coroner's officials. According to coroner's officials, Soberanis had a heart condition. But the traumatic injury to his pancreas from the accident also is listed as a cause of death. Cohn said it couldn't have been a 5-mph accident considering the severity of his injuries. Attorney David Stiles filed the suit Jan. 31 in Kern County Superior Court. The family is seeking more than $25,000 in damages, the figure depending on "how egregious the conduct was on the part of the district," Cohn said. The family is claiming negligence on the part of the district, and wants hospital and funeral expenses paid for, as well as damages for "loss of love, society and comfort" of Soberanis, according to the suit. Attorney Oliver Robinson of the firm Robinson and Kellar is representing the high school district. He said the district was not negligent, adding the boy had other health problems and his death was not directly related to the accident. -- Staff writer Jenny Shearer contributed to this report.