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Drowned teen's father may sue youth group By JONEL ALECCIA The father of a White City teen who drowned on a spring break field trip to the California coast may sue the Community Works youth program charged with the boy's supervision. A lawyer for Dana Hadley, 48, of White City, contends that the Lithia Springs Boys Program was responsible for the March 27 death of Justin Francis Hadley, 16. "From the information available to us, it is our opinion that this accident was caused by negligence on your part," wrote William J. Donnelly, a lawyer with the Kuvara Law Firm in San Jose, Calif. Witnesses said Justin was struck by a wave and swept into the sea. His body has not been recovered. Lithia Springs staff allowed Justin and another youth, Jeremy McGee of Grants Pass, to venture into unsafe territory near the beach at Crescent City, Calif., Dana Hadley said Wednesday. "I think he was in a goddamned place he shouldn't have been," said Hadley. Justin and Jeremy were part of a group of teens that explored a rocky land extension near Ninth Street and Pebble Beach Drive in Crescent City. The area ranges from a few feet to 150 feet wide and extends 100 to 120 feet into the sea, said Doug Garabedian, an evidence technician with the Del Norte County Sheriff's Department. Waves break spectacularly against the outcrop, making it potentially dangerous, he added. "If I was in charge of those boys, we'd never have been down there," Garabedian said. "It's tragic, but it was a foolhardy decision on the part of those supervisors." Witnesses told sheriff's officials that a rogue wave swept over the group, knocking down several people, including Justin and Jeremy, who scrambled to safety. Survivors said Justin struck his head and was washed out to sea. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted on a search that lasted several days, to no avail. Several weeks ago, human remains thought to be Justin's were found near the area where the boy disappeared, Del Norte Detective Patrick Martin said Wednesday. The sheriff's department is awaiting lab results for positive identification. Justin was in the custody of the Oregon Youth Authority, which contracts with the Lithia Springs Boys Program to provide residential care to troubled youth ages 13 to 18. The OYA has not completed an inquiry into the incident, officials have said. Community Works, a Medford nonprofit social service agency, runs the Lithia Springs Boys Program. Executive Director Arnie Green wouldn't comment Wednesday, citing pending legal action. The notice of potential lawsuit was sent by the Kuvara Law Firm April 16, less than three weeks after the incident. The Mail Tribune obtained a copy of the notice after filing a public records request with state agencies. Justin was placed in the Lithia Springs Boys Program as a condition of probation for previous offenses. Dana Hadley characterized his son as a lively boy who was frequently in trouble. "But he wasn't a stealer; he wasn't a thief," the elder Hadley said. Justin enjoyed rural life, including hunting and fishing. "I know he could swim," his father said. "Hell, he was raised on the Rogue River." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.