The family of Oscar Grant filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency today.

Oscar Grant, a 22 year old unarmed transit rider, was shot and killed by BART police in San Francisco on New Year’s Day. The shooting grabbed national attention after cell phone videos of the incident began circulating on the Internet and television.

in January Grant’s family filed a $25 million legal claim against BART, but the lawsuit is seeking double the amount originally sought since the family has received more information about the shooting.

“Since then, I’ve had the benefit of listening to more interviews, seeing more tape and I have a fuller understanding of the facts that Mr. Grant’s civil rights were violated long before he was shot.”

Grant family attorney John Burris  said Grant was unlawfully detained, arrested and deprived of urgent medical care after he was shot by officer Johannes Mehserle on a train station platform in Oakland.

Dale Allen, an attorney representing BART, called the shooting “a tragic accident,” adding that BART has discussed mediation with Burris “in hopes of bringing some closure to the Grant family.”

Johannes Mehserle has pleaded not guilty to murder and is free after posting $3 million bail, while the other officers involved, Tony Pirone and Marysol Domenici remain on paid leave. BART is conducting a criminal investigation of the officers’ actions which will be turned over to Alameda County prosecutors to decide on possible charges.

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