Wrongful Death Knows No Bounds

Glendale, CAWrongful death observes no boundaries, or carries no bias for economic or social status. Wrongful death can happen to the blue-collar worker, the poor, or the rich and famous. However, the one common denominator remains that wrongful death, no matter who is involved, is tragic and needless.

For the late James Hizer of Ohio, his world had turned upside down after he was laid off from his job after 27 years. As one can appreciate, 27 years is a long time to remain with one company, together with the sense of security and well being that comes along with that.

It's not easy to start over, at age 58. But James Hizer did, snagging a $12 per hour blue-collar job at a steel-cutting company, in an effort to get by.

He wasn't at it for long. Just five weeks into his tenure with the company, the college graduate became trapped inside one of the machines, and suffocated.

In January a jury awarded Hizer's estate $3 million for wrongful death.

At Long Island, New York a woman in her early 30's was given the news that a tumor had been found in one of her breasts. With a history of breast cancer in her family, the woman decided that the only prudent thing to do was to undergo a double mastectomy.

However, the woman died from complications originating with the surgery. It was only after she died that the hospital, Mercy Medical Center on Long Island, realized that her lab report had been inadvertently switched with that of another patient.

Not only did the unfortunate woman die from needless surgery, but had she lived the woman (whose named was not released) would have been forced to go through life without her breasts, which were shown post-operatively to be clear of any cancer.

And then there is the beloved actor John Ritter, who disappeared practically before our very eyes in 2003. He had suffered an aortic dissection, or a tear in his aorta, while on the set of his hit TV show '8 Simple Rules...For Dating My Teenage Daughter.'

Who could ever forget his comedic turn on 'Three's Company' back in the 1970s? The actor had been grateful to have, at 54, another hit TV show, and he reveled in it.

However, that all changed on September 11th, 2003.Veteran actor and producer Henry Winkler, best known for his portrayal of 'The Fonz' on the Happy Days' sitcom, testified this week at Ritter's wrongful death trial.

According to Winkler, the two men had gathered on the set of '8 Simple Rules...' to reminisce and trade stories while waiting for the cameras to roll. Winkler had been brought in to do a guest shot on the show.

"He was sweating (and said) 'I really need to get some water,'" Winkler testified, in comments reported by Associated Press Wednesday. "I said 'I really need to memorize my lines.' And he went one way and I went the other. And that was the last time I saw him."

Ritter was taken to hospital and was allegedly treated for a heart attack, rather than for an aortic dissection. The wrongful death lawsuit is seeking $67 million from the radiologist, and cardiologist who treated the actor on the night of September 11th.

Earlier wrongful death settlements with Providence St. Joseph Medical Center of Burbank, California and various other medical personnel totaled a reported $14 million.