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Federal judge dropped from now-sealed suit over alleged underage drinking at his home

By Debra Cassens Weiss

January 6, 2025, 9:31 am CST

A federal judge has been dropped from a December lawsuit alleging that “significant underage drinking” happened during a 2023 party at his home, leading to a fight that significantly injured a partygoer.

Plaintiff Alex Wilson sought to drop as defendants U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi of the Central District of California and his wife in a Dec. 30 request filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Law360 reports. The request was granted the same day.

Wilson had alleged that he was injured during the fight outside the judge’s home when he was struck from behind, and he hit his head and body on the curb. The alleged assailant, who was a minor at the time, remains a defendant in the suit, along with his parents, according to Law360.

Wilson’s lawyer sought to drop Scarsi and his wife from the suit without prejudice, meaning that they could be added as defendants in the future. They were accused of negligence and premises liability.

The Scarsis were dismissed from the suit after they said the complaint had included personal identifying information that put them at risk. The suit has since been sealed, according to Law360.

Judge John J. Kralik of Burbank, California, was assigned to preside in the case in December, according to the court docket.

Scarsi is an appointee of President-elect Donald Trump during his first term in office. Scarsi oversaw a criminal tax case against Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, before the elder Biden issued a pardon to his son.