‘That ’70s Show’ Actress’ Husband Sues Rehab Center for Wrongful Death

Lawsuit claims that Lisa Robin Kelly died from negligent care

Getty Images

The husband of “That ’70s Show” star Lisa Robin Kelly, who died in August 2013 at age 43 after a struggle with substance abuse, is suing the rehab facility that the actress voluntarily checked into just days before her death.

In a wrongful death lawsuit filed in superior court in Los Angeles on Monday, Robert Gilliam says that facility Pax House and its operators, James and Marcia Burnett, “carelessly and negligently owned, managed and operated the subject facility and/or were negligent in the hiring, retention, training, and supervision of their agents, employees, servants, and/or independent contractors whom they assigned to care for patients.”

Also read: ‘That ’70s Show’ Star Lisa Robin Kelly Dead at 43

The lawsuit goes on to claim that Kelly “was neglected in for an unreasonable amount of time” while at the facility.

Ultimately, the lawsuit claims, the facility and its employees acted in a way “so as to legally, directly, and proximately cause the death of decedent Lisa Robin Kelly.”

Also read: ‘That ’70s Show’ Star Died From Multiple Drugs, Coroner Says

As a result of Kelly’s death, the lawsuit says, Gilliam has “sustained damages resulting from the loss of love, affection, society, comfort, support, right of support, expectations of future support and counseling, companionship, solace and mental support.”

The suit goes on to claim that Gilliam, who’s seeking unspecified damages, “has been and will be deprived of the financial support and assistance” of Kelly, and that Gilliam “has incurred property, medical, funeral and burial expenses.”

See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014

Kelly, who played bad girl Laurie Forman on the Fox sitcom, died of multiple drug intoxication, the coroner determined.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Comments