Melinda Duckett Lawsuit Against Nancy Grace Moved to Federal Court
The lawsuit against CNN and Nancy Grace filed by the family of Melinda Duckett has been moved from Circuit Court to Federal Court.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed against CNN’s Nancy Grace, claiming she pushed the mother of a missing toddler to suicide through aggressive questioning on her talk show, has been moved to federal court.
The case was moved from Circuit Court in the Lake County seat of Tavares to U.S. District Court in Ocala, according to a notice of removal filed Dec. 20.
Lawyers for Grace and Atlanta-based CNN asked that the case be transferred to federal court, a move allowed when opposing parties in a lawsuit reside or are headquartered in different states. The provision ensures a state court will not be biased in favor of a party from its own state. (Gainesville Sun)
The lawsuit also names Joshua Duckett, Trenton Duckett’s father as well. The Eubanks, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the estate of Melinda Duckett is also asking for a court ordered accounting of the Trenton Duckett Family Charitable Trust Fund.
Trenton’s father, Joshua Duckett, who was estranged from his wife, also was named in the lawsuit, though he had filed a response in Circuit Court demanding that he be dropped from the case.
The Eubanks want a court-ordered accounting of the Trenton Duckett Family Charitable Trust Fund, which Joshua Duckett established to solicit donations to help him search for his missing son. Their lawsuit said they “seek to ensure that any and all funds donated for locating [Trenton] are used for said purposes and not for any ill-conceived or improper purpose . . .”
The fund is run through helpfindtrenton.com. (Orlando Sentinel)