Bob Lee’s family files wrongful death suit against killer and his family

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — The family of Cash App founder Bob Lee has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Nima Momeni and his family. Momeni was convicted of second-degree murder in December for Lee’s slaying after a two-month trial and is set to be sentenced in May, where he faces 16 years to life in prison.

During Momeni’s trial, testimony and camera footage showed Lee and Momeni together the night of Lee’s killing in 2023. Prosecutors said Momeni stabbed Lee in a fit of rage at a secluded spot underneath the Bay Bridge because he believed that Lee was doing drugs with Momeni’s sister, Khazar. Momeni’s defense attorneys asserted that Momeni acted in self-defense after Lee, on a multi-day drug bender, attacked Momeni.

The lawsuit from Lee’s family, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, asserts negligence and wrongful death claims against Momeni, as well as aiding and abetting and conspiracy claims against Khazar Momeni, her husband and Momeni’s mother. The Lee family, in their complaint, claims that Momeni’s family attempted to cover up the crime and was evasive with law enforcement as it conducted its investigation.

Specifically, the Lee family said that Khazar Momeni and her husband knew Nima Momeni killed Lee and “gave substantial assistance” to help hide the crime by hiding Momeni’s vehicle and attempting to sell it while investigators were looking for it, as well as attempting to delete data from cellphones.

Lee’s family said in the complaint that after partying with Khazar Momeni at a drug dealer’s apartment, Lee left the party with a friend. Afterward, the Lee family claims that the drug dealer drugged Khazar Momeni, and Nima Momeni videocalled Lee and interrogated him about what happened with his sister.

“During the video call, Nima aggressively questioned Bob over events that occurred at the party including drug use and Khazar’s conduct. Nima specifically interrogated Bob about ’the girls getting naked’ at the party, which included his sister,” the Lee family said.

Lee’s friend Bo Mohazzabi testified during Momeni’s trial that the interrogating phone call did indeed happen and that he overheard it in a hotel room while he and Lee were sharing drinks.

Lee’s family is seeking general and special damages, as well as damages for Lee’s loss of wages, earning capacity, hospital, medical, professional, and incidental expenses suffered, but there is no specific monetary damage in the complaint, which was filed Friday night. The Lee family has demanded a jury trial.

“This wrongful death case stems from a heartbreaking tragedy that needlessly cut short the life of a beloved father, son, brother, and friend. On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 43-year-old Bob Lee tragically died after he was stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife by defendant Nima Momenia at approximately 2:30 a.m.,” the Lee family said in the complaint.

Lee’s family noted in the complaint that Lee was a tech mogul who helped develop the Android operating system for Google and held high-ranking positions with other tech companies when he died and that his children will now grow up without a father.

“Bob’s overall contributions to the tech world were significant. His untimely death robbed the world of a brilliant mind and a remarkable innovator in technology,” the Lee family said.