A metro Detroit family is on the path toward justice more than five years after their son’s life was brutally cut short.
A $75 million damages verdict Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court marked a key step for the family of Denis Preka, a 21-year-old college student who died after ingesting a substance in 2019.
Preka was a kind, loving person with goals and ambitions, his family said. A college student at the time of his death, Preka had hoped to go on to law school and become an attorney.
“He was very smart, academic accolades across the board,” said Jamie Thom, Preka’s stepfather. “He was a dreamer but he was pragmatic, he worked hard. He was a special guy and the world is going to miss him.”
Thursday’s jury verdict marked the culmination of a yearslong legal battle, with the family and attorneys expressing relief through tears at an emotional press conference Friday morning. Linda and Jamie Thom filed the lawsuit in 2020 on behalf of Preka’s estate, suing three individuals in connection to Preka’s death.
“This symbolic verdict has brought a measure of healing to Denis’ family and I have witnessed their relief firsthand,” said attorney Mike Morse.
Preka died in Novi on March 19, 2019, under circumstances the family alleges to be caused by the three defendants, according to the lawsuit.
According to court documents, Preka came to a friend’s house to study for a major exam the next morning and asked for Adderall to help concentrate. The three defendants later gave Preka what he believed to be Adderall but was actually MDMA, according to the documents. Rather than calling 911 as Preka experienced the side effects of the substance, the individuals recorded videos of the incident and posted them to Snapchat, the documents allege.
Video of the incident will soon be made public and served as key evidence in the case, Morse said. The family said an individual recorded the social media video and provided it to police.
Families should be aware of the risks of drug use, particularly as school returns to session this fall, Morse said.
“As students prepare to return to college, we must emphasize the dangers of drug misuse and the importance of making responsible choices,” Morse said.
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Linda and Jamie Thom encouraged youth to foster in-person friendships, not only on social media, and fondly recalled Preka’s friendly spirit.
“He was the guy that always sought out the lonely person and attempted to make a connection and he never met a stranger,” Jamie Thom said.
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The family is carrying on Preka’s legacy with the Denis Preka Foundation, with goals to place Denis friendship benches at local college campuses and provide college students free trips abroad.
“He wanted to do great things, he wanted to help and work with non-privileged kids living in Detroit,” Linda Thom said.
The case is under review of the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Morse said. The family feels confident officials will pursue criminal charges in this incident, Linda Thom said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wrongful death lawsuit gets $75 million in college student’s death
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