Brittany Murphy was killed by toxic mold in her home according to a lawsuit filed by her mother, Sharon Murphy. It’s the latest chapter in the tragic deaths of the actress and her husband.
Brittany Murphy, 32, died on December 20, 2009. Her husband, Simon Monjack, 39, was found dead in May of 2010. Murphy’s death was ruled accidental with causes including pneumonia complicated by anemia and intoxication from multiple prescription drugs. Monjack’s death was attributed to pneumonia and anemia. The Hollywood Reporter says that they spoke with Ed Winter, assistant chief coroner of Los Angeles County. He claims the coroner’s office looked for evidence of mold during both autopsies and did not find any. Winter even says he spoke with Sharon Murphy soon after the death of Monjack and she refused the coroner’s request to let the L.A. health department inspect the house citing that she did not believe that mold caused the deaths.
Now, on the two year anniversary of her daughter’s death, Sharon Murphy is filing a lawsuit against her former attorneys Steiner & Libo for legal malpractice. She says they didn’t tell her that the terms of her settlement in a suit against the builders of the house precluded her from being able to sue them for wrongful death.
Sharon Murphy sold the property back in July for $2.7 million even though she stayed in a hotel during the last weeks that she owned the home due to her concerns about the mold. Mother and daughter purchased the 8,000-square-foot-home for $3.85 million in June 2003 from singer Britney Spears who used to live there with Justin Timberlake.
