Anne Carradine, the widow of David Carradine, is suing a French company for the movie star's wrongful death. The 72-year-old actor was found dead hanging in the closet of Bangkok hotel room last June. His cause of death was accidental asphyxiation.
According to Anne's Los Angeles wrongful death complaint, MS2 S.A., which was handling the movie that David was shooting, and other defendants were negligent when they failed to follow industry standards and provide her husband with proper assistance during the filming of the movie Stretch. She says that even though the company promised that her husband would receive the best possible amenities, including an assistant to help him during his time in Bangkok, film staffers and the assistant left Carradine to fend for himself after they couldn't get in touch with him for dinner. Anne is also suing the assistant and the film staffers.
Carradine is known for starring in the "Kung Fu" television series from the 1970's and in the "Kill Bill" movies.
California Wrongful Death
A person has died from a "wrongful death" when another party's negligent, reckless, intentional, or reckless acts contributed to causing the fatality. In California, only certain people can qualify as claimants of a wrongful death case, including the deceased's surviving spouse, sons, daughters, dependent stepchildren, dependent parents, and dependent minors that had been living with the victim for at least six months.
If the decedent doesn't have heirs, then claimants under the law of intestate succession can include his/her parents. If the parents are no longer alive, then brothers or sisters or children of deceased siblings can file. If there aren't any that are living, then the victim's grandparents can seek to obtain California wrongful death recovery. If the grandparents are deceased, then the children of a spouse that has died can file a claim. If there aren't any, then next of kin can file.
David Carradine's Widow Files Wrongful Death Suit, ABC News, June 4, 2010
Autopsy Finds David Carradine Did Not Commit Suicide, Fox News, June 11, 2009
Related Web Resources:
David Carradine, IMDB
Wrongful Death, Nolo
