John Ritter's Family Sues Over His Death

AOL
Posted: 2008-01-25 10:47:38
Filed Under: TV News
(Jan. 24) - Actress Amy Yasbeck, the widow of 'Three's Company' star John Ritter, is suing two doctors who treated her husband before his death in April 2003, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

According to the lawsuit, Ritter's family is blaming a doctor who read the results of the actor's body scan in 2001 and another who diagnosed him the night he died.

"You can't treat my kid's dad for something and kill him in the process," his widow says.

Yasbeck wants more than $67 million in damages, due to Ritter's potential earning power on the hit show he starred in at the time of his death -- '8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.'

"I think the money will show how angry the jury will be about what happened to John and what could happen to them," Yasbeck says of the lawsuit.

Lawyers for the doctors claim there was no wrong doing on the part of their clients.

"I really, really believe that for whatever reason, John Ritter's time was up," Stephen C. Fraser, one of the doctor's attorneys says.

Ritter's family has already received $14 million in settlements, including over $9 million from the hospital where he died.

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2008-01-24 15:41:06
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2626 comments

pllove49 10:53:22 AM Feb 27 2008

How long was he in hospital before passing?

pllove49 10:51:11 AM Feb 27 2008

So there was a bulge in 2001 scan?And no follow up or second opinon?

nannyoneal3 05:38:27 PM Feb 07 2008

tHIS IS TO THE PERSON WHO IS SO MISS INFORMED ON THE DISECTING AEORTA
MY SON AT THE AGE OF 26 HAD A DISECTOR AND IS NOW 32 WITH A ARTIFICIAL ARTERY THE PERSON SAID IF YOU HAVE IT YOUR GONNA DIE. THIS KIND OF INFO IS SOOOOOO WRONG. IN 1978 MY MOTHER DID DIE FROM IT BUT THEN THEY KNEW NOTHING AND CALLED IT RARE, WHICH WE KNOW NOW IT IS NOT TRUE.
WHAT THE HOSPITAL DID WAS RUN A TEST THAT WORSEN THE CONDITION AND TORE IT WORSE, CAUSING MASSIVE BLEEDING. DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW TO DO A CAT SCAN BEFORE ANY INVASIVE PROCEDURE. I HOPE SHE WINS HER LAW SUIT AND BRINGS THIS CONDITION TO LIGHT.

The foley parent 12:03:33 PM Feb 04 2008

My moms death saved my life ! I just realized this today when John Ritters wife talked about the tear in his aorta. I had been sick for more then a week lots of pain thru my whole torsue, I was suspose to drive over 300 miles to my moms furenal and kept thinking I would be better. On the very last day to get there on time I told my husband I cant go take me to the hospital, there they found my aorta was in larged and I spent a week in the hospital. I am so thankful there diagnosis was right.

melliecats88 12:32:19 AM Feb 01 2008

One of my favorite actors, May John Ritter rest in peace. still love watching him on tv reruns as makes me feel like he is still with us. would he have wanted it this way? let's remember him, money won't bring him back, let his memory be that he made us laugh, thank you John!

tmherpct1 12:23:00 AM Jan 29 2008

It`s sad he was a good actor, but what about the high cost of health care after lawsuits happen...

gipperseafood 07:37:09 AM Jan 28 2008

even if its 100 million it s not ginna bring him back wat a greedy b tch truly un real all u folks in la la land,aka hollywood get a grip

emcspc7 07:29:00 AM Jan 28 2008

Greed is the word of the century! It is destroying the upper middle, middle, and lower classes. We just can't keep supporting the greed and survive. We might as well be back in feudal europe.

mavengo 05:00:00 AM Jan 28 2008

why you have a full house

boski4 12:33:43 AM Jan 28 2008

I can understand how much her
pain must be. The sad part about suing is we all end up paying for it. I feel if they were really negligent then you should be able to go for their license to practice. I loved to watch John Ritter and I am sure sad for his family. I think there are so many people for doctors to care for they become careless. If doctors are negligent then they should have to pay in some way, but when you are talking that kind of money then we all are paying.

cynthialeathers 12:17:00 AM Jan 28 2008

"I really, really believe that for whatever reason, John Ritter's time was up," Stephen C. Fraser, one of the doctor's attorneys says.
-------------
God help us when the lawyers start determining when our time is up.

cynthialeathers 12:15:00 AM Jan 28 2008

The $67 million figure is based on what John Ritter would have made if he was still alive and his show had gone on to syndication with him in it and as executive producer. The show was extremely popular and ABC had plans to keep it going for at least 5 years. I think if they can prove gross negligence on the part of the doctors, they should do it. Who knows who else those doctors are treating right now who would benefit from them losing their licenses.

dave82763 08:39:06 PM Jan 27 2008

The lawsuit should be used directly at the docter not the insurance companies. more and more docters are not being accoutable for there actions. we all have to pay for it one way or another.

novstorm 08:05:35 PM Jan 27 2008

Mistakes happen in the medical field. that is why they cll it "practicing medicine"
No one is perfect. I really want to know just what he did wrong that constitues 67 million bucks and ruining his life?
Nothing is absolute in medicine. Test can prove wrong. If his heart was that bad maybe it was his time to go? I don't know but I sure think that sue sue sue is wrong.

novstorm 08:02:01 PM Jan 27 2008

Wow I guess she really needs the money. Already 11 million and now wants 67 mill more? Good for the State of Ca. If this was not a high profile personality they would be talking different. Saw the Movie.
I think it is pure greed. John isn't there to keep up their life style and isn't she the one that he left his first wife for?

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