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You've most likely heard of wrongful death actions because of shocking cases that have dominated the headlines. A case of this type is brought to civil court by the victim's family after their loved one has died or been killed as a result of the negligence of another. The goal of these types of lawsuits is to obtain financial compensation for the family's loss rather than or in addition to a criminal penalty. Since wrongful death is not covered by common law, it only exists by statutes, which are different in every state. Here are the details of four of the most infamous wrongful death actions ever brought in the U.S. 1. O.J. Simpson The O.J. Simpson saga is one of the most infamous wrongful death actions ever tried in the United States. Simpson, a celebrity and former football player, was acquitted of criminal charges for allegedly murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The families of Goldman and Brown successfully sued Simpson in civil court and were awarded $33.5 million in damages. Because the burden of proof is less stringent in a civil trial than in a criminal one, Goldman and Brown's families had an easier time establishing liability rather than proving guilt. In the end, Simpson challenged the decision, and the families received almost zero payment towards the civil judgment. 2. Nancy Grace Melinda Duckett committed suicide after appearing on Nancy Grace's television talk show. Grace aggressively questioned Duckett over the disappearance of her child and implied that Duckett was the child's murderer. After her suicide, Duckett's parents sued Grace saying she was the cause of Duckett's emotional distress that led her to take her own life. The parties eventually settled and agreed to create a $200,000 trust dedicated to the missing child, who still has never been found. 3. Ford Motors Pinto Ford Motor Company faced serious legal issues after producing millions of Pinto cars with gas tank defects that had a high risk of explosion. The Pinto had a rear-facing tank and even in small rear-end collisions, the tank would explode. After several major explosions occurred, multiple suits were filed against Ford, with the most infamous one involving the death of a woman whose teenage son also suffered severe burns. Eventually, the vehicle was recalled, and Ford was held liable for millions of dollars to the families of the victims. 4. Phil and Brynn Hartman Brynn Hartman was at the top of the headlines after she murdered her husband, comedian and Saturday Night Live actor Phil Hartman, and then committed suicide. Brynn Hartman's family placed the blame on Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the anti-depressant Zoloft, saying that the drug caused her to become insane and shoot herself and her husband. The case ultimately was settled out of court for an amount that was never disclosed. Wrongful death actions can involve many different types of fatal mishaps from medical malpractice to product liability to car accidents, but these four captured the attention of the public and created front-page news coverage not easily forgotten. To learn more about their options for wrongful death actions, Florida residents should visit http://www.macgrecojrpa.com/wrongful/.
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