Father of Kocis suing 2 defendants

WILKES-BARRE – The father of a slain porn producer filed a lawsuit Monday against the producer’s suspected killers.

Michael Kocis, the father of Bryan Kocis, filed suit against Harlow Raymond Cuadra and Joseph Manuel Kerekes.

Cuadra, 26, and Kerekes, 34, are charged with homicide in the Jan. 24, 2007, slaying of Bryan Kocis, a gay porn producer. Investigators claim the two Virginia men killed Bryan Kocis, their rival in the gay porn industry, inside his Dallas Township home and then set the house on fire. Bryan Kocis, 44, was found dead by firefighters.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for both suspects, who are jailed awaiting trial.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for wrongful death and destruction of property.

Both suspects claim to be indigent and are represented in their criminal case by publicly funded attorneys.

Michael Kocis’ attorney, Conrad Falvello, said he’s unsure whether the suspects have any assets to recover for damages, but the family has a “fiduciary duty to at least pursue” that and see “if there are any assets that may be recoverable.”

“It was not something the family just wanted to give up on,” he said. “We’re going after them.”

The suit, filed in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, claims Cuadra and Kerekes entered Bryan Kocis’ home and “jointly” or “separately” caused Bryan Kocis’ death and destroyed the home and property.

The home, from which Bryan Kocis operated his business, had a fair market value of at least $170,000, and the personal property and other contents had a fair market value of at least $150,000, the suit said.