What Is Going On With ‘America’s Got Talent’ 2018 Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
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In March 2017, Maureen Allen volunteered at the Pasadena Convention Center where America’s Got Talent was taping. She suffered a fall from her wheelchair outside of the venue and died three months later. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FremantleMedia and NBCUniversal in 2018. Have there been any updates on this America’s Got Talent lawsuit?
‘America’s Got Talent’ Producers Were Sued In 2018 For Wrongful Death
Maureen and her husband were volunteering at the 67th Annual Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair. ‘AGT’ was also filming at this location. They “discovered that all disabled access points to the Auditorium appeared to be blocked off” according to the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“They were advised that the NBC television show America’s Got Talent was filming on the premises beginning the next day or soon thereafter, and the television show’s trailers and equipment were blocking all handicap access points to the building except for one” the suit continues. This one access point had a large power cord protector in front of it that Maureen attempted to roll over in her motorized wheelchair.
SEE ALSO: GABRIELLE UNION AND NBC AGREE TO A SETTLEMENT AFTER ‘AGT’ FIRING & RACISM CLAIMS
But, the front wheel of her wheelchair got caught on the power chord protector. This caused her to flip over in the chair. The suit says that she suffered injuries to her head, arms and hip. She was hospitalized and suffered a blood clot and a severe stroke the following day. After having hip surgery, Maureen’s health was still on a decline. She had multiple surgeries and was put on life support in June 2017. Maureen passed away shortly after at the age of 79.
The suit was seeking unspecified damages. Her estate was alleging wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress and violation of The California Disabled Persons Act among other counts. This act states that individuals with disabilities have the equal right “to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, medical facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices, public facilities, and other public places.”
Was The Case Settled?
So far, it does not seem at this time that there are any updates on a settlement for this America’s Got Talent lawsuit. Brian Panish, Thomas Schultz and John Shaller of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP in Los Angeles were representing the Allen estate in the lawsuit.
This is not the first time America’s Got Talent was sued. Check out the video below to learn about the five times the show was sued. This video also includes the most recent scandal with Gabrielle Union that had her filing a suit against the show.
SEE ALSO: GABRIELLE UNION ON ‘AGT’ SETTLEMENT: ‘YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GASLIGHT ME INTO MINIMIZING MY TRAUMA’
Gabrielle was previously fired from ‘AGT’ after just one season as a judge and accused the show of having a “toxic work environment.” She reached a settlement with the network after months of back and forth accusations.
