Settlement reached in Joan Rivers malpractice case

Posted On:   06 June 2016

13th May, Los Angeles – US: Melissa Rivers has settled her medical malpractice lawsuit with her mother Joan Rivers New York City medical clinic. Last year, the TV personality sued Yorkville Endoscopy, where Joan went into cardiac arrest in 2014, and several employees there, claiming negligence.

Melissa sought unspecified damages and said she sued to ensure that nobody else will ever experience what happened to her mother, reported ABC News. "In accepting this settlement, I am able to put the legal aspects of my mother’s death behind me and ensure that those culpable for her death have accepted responsibility for their actions quickly and without equivocation," she said.

"Moving forward, my focus will be to ensure that no one ever has to go through what my mother, Cooper and I went through and I will work towards ensuring higher safety standards in out-patient surgical clinics. I want to express my personal gratitude to my legal team for their wise counsel and prompt resolution of this case."

The lawsuit also named, among others, former Yorkville Endoscopy medical director Dr Lawrence Cohen, anesthesiologist Robert Koniuta and Dr Gwen Korovin, Joans personal ear, nose and throat doctor who allegedly was not authorized to be in the room at the time the comedian went in for a routine procedure on August 28, 2014.

"Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Rivers family. Today, the parties agreed to settle this case to avoid protracted litigation. We remain committed to providing quality, compassionate healthcare services that meet the needs of our patients, their families and the community," a spokesperson for Yorkville Endoscopy said. Joan died in September 2014 at the age of 81, just days after she went into cardiac arrest at Yorkville Endoscopy.

"While we know that no amount of money will compensate Melissa Rivers and her son Cooper for their loss, we are pleased that the case has been resolved. We worked tirelessly to ensure that appropriate compensation was paid on behalf of those responsible for Joan Rivers death," said Melisas attorneys, said.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/settlement-reached-in-joan-rivers-malpractice-case/1/667133.html