New York Wrongful Death Lawyer Blog

Ryan Dunn, age 34, known for his insane and dangerous antics in movies and on MTV as part of the Jackass franchise, crashed his Porsche, going 130 mph while intoxicated in Chester, PA, at about 3 a.m., last June 20.

Zachary Hartwell, Dunn's passenger who died in the fiery crash, was married less than one year at the time.

As passenger, Hartwell was not in control of the automobile, Dunn was. His high speed, intoxicated, operation of the Porsche was negligent. The crash and resulting deaths was his fault.

No wrongful death recovery will make up for Hartwell's wife's loss...

Whether Dunn was a true "jackass" or an all-American boy, the combination of youth, alcohol, and speed, once again claimed more life.

Nicole John, the 17 year old daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Eric John, died on August 27, 2010, in a fall from a high rise Manhattan apartment. She had graduated from the International School Bangkok and was to begin studies at Parsons The New School for Design this fall.

The NY Daily News said her blog "portrayed a tormented party girl keen on vodka and Xanax". The blog also showed her affinity for Red Bull and vodka, an "energy-boosting combination".

Prior to her fall she had been drinking for some hours at a Manhattan nightclub, using a fake ID to gain admission. A Facebook message she posted at 2:42 a.m. confirmed her voluntary intoxication. Later, after 4 a.m., at a party, she slipped off her shoes, took her camera, and stepped out onto the ledge of the 25th floor apartment.

Police theorize that she was going to take a photograph, lost her footing and fell. Her body was found on a third floor overhang of the building.

The 25 year old, real estate broker, host of the apartment party was charged with two misdemeanors relating to providing alcohol to a minor, most likely Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

The nightclub spokesman said that the teen's ID was checked before she was allowed inside. A source close to the club said "The technology can be so good that people are developing ways to sneak into places every day... There are some fake Ids that are uncatchable".

Condolences to the family.

Before the release of the official autopsy report on actor Brittany Murphy, her husband has leveled accusations against Warner Brothers that they are responsible for her death.

Producer Simon Monjack, apparently distraught at the unexpected tragic death of his wife at age 32, is quoted by TheDailyBeast.com as threatening suit for wrongful death due to breach of contract, saying "They killed her... She was devastated.", at the loss of employment.

According to the show Access Hollywood, a Warner Brothers representative promised to vigorously contest Monjack's accusations: "Any claim that Warners Bros. Pictures was somehow responsible for Brittany Murphy's tragic death is demonstrably false, reprehensible and defamatory."

One would wonder if Mr. Monjack had consulted with a wrongful death attorney prior to making his accusations. He claims that she dies due to a heart attack. The autopsy report will necessarily report whether medications that were found in their home, [some prescribed to her, some to him, some to her mother, and some to various third party names] were ingested by her.

Various medications can interact with each other, with harmful results. Other recent celebrity cases involving the use of drugs include Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson.

In the meantime, Mr. Monjack has likely made some powerful enemies at WB. Not knowing the actual cause of his wife's death, he would have been better advised to wait on the autopsy. No matter what, breach of contract, even if shown, will not be recognized as a legal cause of death.