The Long Island bouncer found guilty of fatally beating a bar patron during an argument last year has been slapped with a wrongful death suit — a day before he is set to be sentenced for the brutal crime.
David Cruz, 32, faces up to 25 years behind bars when he is sentenced Friday on a manslaughter conviction in the Aug. 21, 2022, death of bargoer Jake Scott outside Tailgaters Bar in Holbrook.
“My son was a beautiful soul,” Scott’s mom, Deborah Scott, told The Post on Thursday.
“There is not a second that goes by that I don’t think of him.”
The grieving woman has now filed a Suffolk County lawsuit against the bar, its owners and Cruz over her son’s tragic death.
“I don’t feel it was fair for this to happen to him,” she said of Scott’s death. “I hope and pray that this does not happen to anyone else.”
Bouncer David Cruz has been slapped with a wrongful death suit by the family of Jake Scott. Newsday via Getty Images
The incident took place outside Tailgaters Bar in Holbrook. Google MapsSuffolk County prosecutors said Scott and Cruz — who was working the door at the bar — got into a tiff after the patron called the bouncer “a weirdo.”
Later around 2:45 a.m., the men exchanged words again when Scott came back outside.
Cruz tried to get Scott outside to be out of view of the security cameras — and even went so far as to cover one of the camera with a shirt, prosecutors said.
Scott’s mother Deborah sued Cruz for fatally beating her son in August.
After the brutal beating Scott was placed in a medically induced coma for 11 days before his death.
But the incident was still captured on video as the surveillance camera from a neighboring business caught the ensuing pounding of Scott that continued after he fell to the ground.
Cruz — who is 6 foot 5 and 270 pounds — ran after the beating went on the lam for three days.
Scott was placed in a medically induced coma until he was pronounced dead 11 days later.
Cruz will be sentenced for manslaughter on Friday and faces 25 years behind bars for the crime. Suffolk County District Attorney's OfficeCruz “was entrusted … to perform security services,” the suit states.
Instead he, “violently attacked and assaulted” Scott “and caused his death,” the filing claims.
The bar “should have known,” that Cruz “was of a violent nature and prone to violent and vicious acts,” the suit charges.
Scott’s mom “has been deprived of a kind and loving son” and has lost his “love” and “companionship,” the court papers allege.
“There is no dollar amount that will ever heal the horrific pain inflicted upon Jake Scott’s family,” Scott family lawyer Jon Bell said in a statement.
“All parties who were responsible for the death of Scott need to experience the consequences of their actions.”
The mom is suing for unspecified damages.
The Scotts plan to attend Cruz’ sentencing Friday, a rep for the family said.
Cruz’ criminal defense lawyer didn’t return a request for comment Thursday. A message left at the bar seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.
