[msb-alumni] Casey Kasem's widow named in wrongful death suit
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2015 15:05:36 -0500
BlankCasey Kasem's widow named in wrongful death suit AP LOS ANGELES (AP) Three
of the radio personality Casey Kasem's children and his brother sued his widow
on Wednesday, claiming her actions led to his death in 2014. The wrongful death
lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses Jean Kasem of elder abuse
and inflicting emotional distress on Kasem's children from a previous marriage
by restricting access to their father before his death. "Casey's early death
occurred as a direct and proximate result of Jean's neglect and physical abuse
of Casey," the lawsuit states. A call and email sent to Jean Kasem's attorney,
H. Michael Soroy, was not immediately returned. The longtime "American Top 40"
host had a form of dementia and a severe bedsore when he died at age 82. Kerri,
Julie and Michael Kasem are joined in the lawsuit by their uncle, Mouner. The
lawsuit seeks more than $250,000, although a jury would have to decide any
damage award. Prosecutors earlier this year declined to charge Jean Kasem with
elder abuse, a decision that Kerri Kasem said Wednesday led to her family
filing
the civil case. "We would rather see her in jail than receive one dime," Kerri
Kasem said. "We don't care about the money. We care about justice. The lawsuit
follows years of legal wrangling between Jean Kasem and three of his adult
children from a previous marriage. The groups fought over visitation access to
Casey Kasem before his death in June 2014, with his daughter Kerri Kasem
assuming control of his medical care. A Los Angeles judge stripped Jean Kasem
of
decision-making authority over concerns about her decision to move Casey Kasem
from a medical facility in Santa Monica, California, to a friend's home in
Washington state. Jean Kasem contended at the time she moved her husband to
protect his privacy. The 28-page lawsuit gives a detailed account of Kasem's
final days, including the extent of his ailments and the family infighting
swirling around him. It states that in the months before Casey Kasem's death,
his wife repeatedly left him in various hospitals for days despite the fact he
was ready to be discharged. The lawsuit also details numerous confrontations
about Kasem's care, and it states Jean Kasem transported his body to Norway
where it was buried in an unmarked grave. That was despite Casey Kasem's wishes
to be buried at a cemetery in Los Angeles, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit
states the Kasem's children and brother are seeking "fair recompense for the
suffering they personally endured from witnessing the abuse and its painful and
damaging physical effect on their beloved father and brother, and the gross
treatment and disposition of Casey Kasem's remains in an unmarked grave in a
distant land unknown to him or his family. "What she did to my father is
reprehensible," Kerri Kasem said. "It's disgusting. It's horrific. Los Angeles
prosecutors in May rejected filing elder abuse charges against Jean Kasem,
saying they could not prove at trial that her actions led to the radio host's
death. An explanation of the decision stated Jean Kasem ensured her husband was
medically supervised during his transport from Santa Monica to Washington,
which
included a brief stay in Las Vegas. "Because of Mr. Kasem's longstanding
profound health issues, this case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to
a jury," the decision stated. "The development of a bedsore by itself is
insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect because of Mr. Kasem's overall
weakened health. Casey and Jean Kasem were married for more than 30 years.
Casey
Kasem's legacy reached well beyond music. His voice was heard as the character
Shaggy in the "Scooby-Doo" TV cartoons and in numerous commercials. His
"American Top 40" began July 4, 1970, in Los Angeles. In his signoff, Casey
Kasem's would tell viewers: "And don't forget: Keep your feet on the ground,
and
keep reaching for the stars. Kerri Kasem and her attorneys, Troy Martin and
Steve Shuman, said that in addition to trying to hold Jean Kasem accountable,
they hope their lawsuit raises awareness about elder abuse. "People are going
through this across the country every single day," Kerri Kasem said.
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