Family members of a 35-year-old diabetic, who died after an Oct. 2 struggle with Riverside police while he was in medical distress, have filed wrongful death claims against the city. Two separate claims state that police and firefighter paramedics who were called to assist Terry Rabb, who was having a diabetic episode, used excessive force. Lt. Darryl Hurt said police assisted firefighter paramedics because Rabb's behavior was "hostile." Sgt. Leon Phillips said in October that the officers struggled briefly with Rabb and handcuffed him, but Rabb died later that evening. Phillips said the officers did not use any weapons in the struggle with Rabb. A damage claim submitted to the city clerk's office March 13 by the law office of Douglas Pryor of Beverly Hills, on behalf of Rabb's daughter and former wife,states that Rabb "was in obvious need of immediate medical attention" and alleges that emergency responders used "excessive force" and "did willfully and maliciously cause the wrongful death" of Rabb. A separate claim, filed March 10 by attorney Mark Huston of Orange, on behalf of Rabb's two sisters and three of his children, alleges that police "physically beat Terry Rabb, handcuffed him and treated him as if he were resisting arrest, violating his civil rights, and otherwise failed to treat his medical emergency thereby directly causing his untimely and immediate death." Rabb was Black and the involved city employees are not, the claim states, adding, "It is believed that race was a motivating factor in the treatment given to Mr. Rabb." Huston said, "That doesn't jibe with what the witnesses say -- he was not hostile." He said the city must respond to the claims before a lawsuit is filed.  [MORE]