SANTA ANA : Hate-Crime Beating Lawsuit Trial Date Set

Scheduling conflicts over jury selection and witness availability on Tuesday delayed the start of trial in the lawsuit brought by a 57-year-old man who was nearly beaten to death on a rocky Laguna Beach shoreline.

The Orange County Superior Court trial is now set for Feb. 27, court officials said.

Loc Minh Truong is seeking money for medical bills and other damages from two young men who admitted targeting him because they thought he was gay.

Truong’s lawsuit also names eight other young men who were with the two assailants that night but were never charged with a crime. Six of the eight teen-agers--all of whom deny knowing the attack was going to occur--have settled out of court for more than $400,000, according to Truong’s attorney, Russell Kerr.

Jeffrey Michael Raines, 19, of San Juan Capistrano pleaded guilty last year to attempted murder and other charges, including commission of a hate crime. He is serving a 10-year prison sentence.

Christopher Michael Cribbins, who authorities said started the attack by pushing Truong, but then ran away, pleaded guilty to assault and committing a hate crime. Cribbins, 23, of San Clemente, served a one-year jail sentence.

Truong, who was unemployed at the time of the 1993 beating, suffered permanent brain damage and may never work again, his attorney said.

He is seeking about $150,000 for medical bills, and more than $2.5 million in other damages, according to court records.