CNN Wrongful Death Suit Filed

Christina Cole

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

A wrongful death lawsuit that claims CNN's Nancy Grace pushed the mother of a missing toddler to suicide after aggressive questioning on her show has now been moved to Federal Court.

The suit filed by Melinda Duckett's relatives was moved from state court to federal court according to documents.
Lawyers for Grace and Atlanta-based CNN has asked that the case be moved to federal court, a move that is allowed when opposing parties in a suite reside or are headquartered in different states. The provision ensures state court will not be biased in favor of the party in their state.

The suit stems from a hostile September 7 interview on Grace's CNN Headline News show in which she questioned Duckett about her whereabouts on the day that her 2-year-old son, Trenton Duckett, was reported missing. The segment was aired after Melinda committed suicide.

Investigators have since named Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in his disappearance. An attorney for Duckett's estate has said that Grace encouraged Duckett to appear on her show by saying the goal was to draw public attention to help find the boy.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages as well as a court order preventing the show on which Duckett appeared from being broadcast again.