subject: High-profile Wrongful Death Lawsuits - Legal Issues In The News [print this page] Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is a way that close family members of a deceased person can recover actual financial losses and sometimes punitive damages from a person who has either willfully murdered or through an act of neglect otherwise caused that person's death.
There have been many high-profile wrongful death cases in history, such as the O.J. Simpson case. In this case the parents of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown-Simpson and those of Ronald Goldman who was a man that Nicole had allegedly been dating. Simpson had been tried in a criminal case for the murders of Nicole and Ronald, but due to some bumbles by the police department some crucial evidence was ruled as inadmissible and Simpson was acquitted. However, the family members were able to pursue and win a wrongful death lawsuit in which they were awarded a financial settlement in the millions of dollars (most of which has yet to be collected). Most importantly, the families took solace in the fact that a court of law agreed that Simpson was indeed responsible for these murders.
Other high-profile wrongful death lawsuits include the case of Laci Peterson who was pregnant at the time she was brutally murdered by her husband Scott Peterson. This case has since been dropped, most likely because nothing new is to be gained from pursuing this case as Scott Peterson is currently in prison on death row for these brutal murders.
Another high-profile wrongful death suit was filed by the family of Bonnie Lee Bakely (including her four children), the late wife of actor Robert Blake. The family won the lawsuit which netted them $15 million.
While no amount of money can bring back a deceased loved one or truly compensate for their loss, it can help to bring closure and a sense of justice having been served along with helping to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the loss.
