Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Reported by: Melissa Mecija
SANTA MARIA
Judge Rodney Melville dismisses Michael Jackson from a lawsuit which claimed he was, in part, to blame for the death of a Marian Medical Center patient. But this current lawsuit is still not over.
The hospital is still named as a defendant. According to court paperwork, the family of Manuela Ruiz is suing for elder abuse, and emotional and mental distress for what they called "preferential treatment."
It has been more than three years since Manuela Ruiz died, but her family says the pain hasn't gone away.
"She was the heart of the family, and we miss her," Marco Meraz said.
Meraz first brought his grandmother to the emergency room after she complained of shortness of breath on February 2005. She suffered a heart attack and was put on a breathing machine.
The following morning, Michael Jackson was admitted to Marian for flu-like symptoms. Meraz says his grandmother died on February 15, after hospital workers pushed her out of her room to make space for the King of Pop.
"She was in critical condition. They couldn't even move her to the ICU because they didn't want to move her around," Meraz said. "But yet, here comes somebody in, and they disconnect her and drag her along the other room when there's nothing, no machinery. [They had to] hand pump her."
Tuesday, the hospital's attorney, Hugh Spackman, called the allegations "outrageous."
A Marian spokeswoman says patient care is always a top priority.
"Today's ruling is [a] procedural step necessary to move forward with the final dismissal of the case. We have always been confident the care provided to Mrs. Ruiz was appropriate," said a written statement released by the hospital Tuesday morning.
Manuela Ruiz's family says that couldn't be further from the truth.
"If it was your guys' loved one, your grandma, your mother, I'm sure you'll be where I'm at. I don't think anybody should even go through this, period," Meraz said.
The family is not revealing how much they are asking for, but says, it's never been about money.
The defendants' attorneys did not want to speak on camera. Jackson's lawyer, Timothy Gorny, called what happened "unfortunate," but says his client was not at fault.
The family of Manuela Ruiz appeared Tuesday morning without an attorney, but hired a lawyer later in the day. The case will be back in court in about a month for a case management review.
No new trial date has been set.
The King of Pop is no stranger to legal battles:
- A Santa Maria jury found him not guilty in 2005 of child molestation.
- In July 2006, a former advisor, Marc Schaffel, sued Jackson for unpaid bills. The court awarded a split decision.
- In December 2006, Jackson sued his former accountants, claiming they wrongfully took his money.
