Melissa Rivers is expected to file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Yorkville Endoscopy in relation to the sudden death of her mother, comedian and television personality Joan Rivers.
Melissa retained the services of top New York law firm Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Maloof, Bloom and Rubinowitz, who has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for their clients in medical malpractice suits.
Managing partner Ben Rubinowitz confirmed Tuesday that his firm had been retained by Melissa.
"In order to fully determine all the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Joan Rivers, we confirm that our firm has been engaged by Melissa Rivers and her family," he told the New York Daily News.
TMZ reported that the firm has contacted all parties involved in the case, and instructed them not to destroy any records related to Rivers' medical procedure. The lawyers are also interested in phone logs and other documents.
Joan Rivers was removed from life support on September 4 after going into cardiac arrest and being placed in a medically-induced coma on August 28. The 81-year-old was undergoing a throat procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy on the Upper East Side when it is understood her air supply was interrupted, and she went into cardiac arrest. The Medical Examiner determined that her death was caused by brain damage due to low blood oxygen.
Rivers' only child, Melissa, is expected to be named executor of her estate after her will is filed in court. Rivers is also survived by her grandson, Cooper.
Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Maloof, Bloom and Rubinowitz has secured large settlements in many high-profile cases, including a $100 million recovery for 9/11 victims and their families, $50 million for 11 estates of victims of the Stouffer's Hotel fire, $5.5 million for the family of a man killed in the Lockerbie disaster, and $3 million for the family of Amadou Diallo.
