Bill Paxton’s family awarded $1 million for wrongful death lawsuit
The family of the late actor Bill Paxton reached a $1 million settlement with the company which they sued after Paxton died following surgery in 2017. The actor appeared in several films and television series, including Tornado with Helen Hunt and Fat Love on HBO.
Seven-figure settlement for Bill Paxton’s family
The settlement was detailed in court documents filed in Los Angeles County by general anesthesia specialists named as defendants in the lawsuit. Paxton’s widow, Louise Newbury, and her two children, James and Lydia, believe the anesthesia group that helped with Paxton’s operation was responsible.
The actor underwent routine heart surgery, two weeks later he died. He was 61 at the time of his death. The medical group denied any responsibility at the time and still does so today. Yet actions speak louder than words and they cost $1 million.
The settlement was a “business decision”
GAS noted in court papers that they treated the settlement as a “business decision” and that it was subject only to “a judge’s approval.” Paxton’s death was first reported by TMZ who shared that his cause of death was a stroke, 11 days after undergoing the operation.
The lawsuit includes Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the doctor who worked on Paxton as defendants. Family attorney Bruce Broillet released a statement in 2018 noting the family’s trauma. “Bill Paxton and his family trusted the doctors and staff at this medical facility, but instead Cedars-Sinai betrayed their trust.”
He openly stated, “The surgeon’s actions resulted in this tragic and preventable death”, and even went so far as to say that the surgeon embarked on a “high-risk and unconventional surgical approach” ultimately leading to the death of the beloved actor.
This is only part of the trial
The general anesthesia specialists made it clear in a statement released after the settlement that they wanted to “avoid exposing the defendant to costly and time-consuming litigation.” That being said, Newbury and his kids aren’t quite done.
The rest of the trial will resume on September 19 with the family facing off against the other defendants; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Ali Khoynezhad, a cardiothoracic surgeon employed by the hospital.
Specifically, the family alleges that the hospital provided Paxton with “negligent diagnosis, management, and treatment,” which led to his death. Fort Worth Star Telegram obtained documents indicating that the hospital “misrepresented and/or concealed information relating to the risks of the surgery and care that would be provided and/or failed to adequately explain the proposed treatment or procedure.”
As for this “high-risk and unconventional” procedure, the family and allegedly Paxton himself were not told that Dr. Khoynezhad was going to perform it.
Bill Paxton’s doctor wasn’t there
The family also alleges that Dr Khoynezhad was ‘not in the hospital’ when Paxton was in pain and further that he did not put a doctor in his place to provide ‘continuous care and coverage’ in his case. absence. This delay was said to have been the key to Paxton’s passing.
Broillet said, “Bill Paxton and his family trusted the doctors and staff at this medical facility, but instead Cedars-Sinai betrayed their trust. The surgeon’s actions resulted in this tragic and preventable death.