A man who survived two overdoses from drugs allegedly supplied by Ed Buck has sued the one-time L.A. Democratic Party insider. Buck was convicted in July in connection with the fatal overdoses of two other men in his West Hollywood home.
Buck was once a candidate for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council. He has reportedly donated more than half a million dollars to Democratic candidates and causes connected with the party.
In the suit filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, Dane Brown levied a variety of allegations against the 67-year-old businessman-turned-political activist, including sexual battery and assault, hate violence, negligence and human trafficking. The complaint sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Brown reportedly met Buck through an online dating platform used by gay men in June 2019. Buck allegedly paid for a ride-share vehicle to bring Brown to West Hollywood for sexual encounters.
The suit alleged that the pair engaged in sex and Buck provided Brown with methamphetamine to smoke and for intravenous use on numerous occasions. Buck allegedly continued to supply Brown with the drug while Brown stayed at his apartment through Sept. 2019.
Brown alleged that Buck sought him out specifically because he is Black and gay. He also alleged that Buck forced him to watch pornography and even administered two intravenous doses of methamphetamine to Brown himself.
Brown said the intravenous doses of methamphetamine administered by Buck caused Brown to overdose on two occasions. Brown said he was hospitalized both times.
On a separate occasion, Brown said Buck gave him gamma hydroxybutryate, or GHB, a well-known “date rape” drug. When Brown experienced a reaction to the drug, Buck allegedly refused to call an ambulance. Brown was forced to leave the apartment, cross the street and seek help from an employee at a nearby service station. Both the employee and a passerby reportedly called 911 on his behalf.
Brown testified against Buck in his criminal trial in July. On July 27, a federal jury found Buck guilty of committing nine crimes, including two counts of distributing methamphetamine resulting in death.