Actor Bill Paxton’s family settles wrongful death lawsuit with LA hospital, surgeon
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — The family of late actor Bill Paxton agreed Friday to settle a wrongful death lawsuit against a Los Angeles-area hospital and the surgeon who performed his heart surgery shortly before his February 2017 death, according to a court filing.
Per the court filing, obtained by The Associated Press, the suit was filed against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center more than four years ago by Paxton’s wife, Louise Newbury, and their two children, James and Lydia.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed and require a judge’s approval, Deadline reported.
Friday’s settlement came one month before the lawsuit was slated for trial, Rolling Stone reported.
According to his death certificate, Paxton died on Feb. 25, 2017, from a stroke suffered 11 days after surgery to replace a heart valve and repair aorta damage, Deadline reported.
Paxton’s family previously reached a partial settlement of their wrongful-death lawsuit, with an anesthesiologist medical group agreeing to pay $1 million, the entertainment news site reported.
“The matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties,” plaintiffs’ lawyers Bruce Broillet and Steve Heimberg said in a prepared statement.
The lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center alleged that Paxton’s surgeon, Dr. Ali Khoynezhad, used an unnecessary “high risk and unconventional surgical approach.” It also alleged that the medical facility knew Khoynezhad was known to “engage in maverick surgeries and show suboptimal judgment,” Rolling Stone reported.
Meanwhile, the defendants argued that the Paxton family was made fully aware of the surgery’s risks and had agreed to the procedure, according to the magazine.
Paxton, who was 61 when he died, was best known for roles in such films as “Apollo 13,” “Twister,” “Titanic,” “Weird Science” and “A Simple Plan,” as well as for the HBO series “Big Love.” At the time of his death, Paxton was filming a “Training Day” series for CBS, Rolling Stone reported.
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 18: Actor Bill Paxton and actor Harry Dean Stanton arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Vantage's "Into the Wild" held at the Director's Guild of America on September 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Imgages) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 10: Actor Bill Paxton on the field at Dodger Stadium on June 10, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) (Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 15: Actor Bill Paxton (L) and director Ron Howard pose at the special screening of THINKFilm's "In The Shadow Of The Moon" in the Clarity Screening Room on August 15, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for THINKFilm) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for THINKFilm)
Bill Paxton through the years HOLLYWOOD - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Actor Bill Paxton, executive producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman arrive at HBO's premiere of "The Pacific" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on February 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by FilmMagic Inc/FilmMagic) (FilmMagic/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years CENTURY CITY, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Actor Bill Paxton in audience during the 8th annual VES Awards held at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on February 28, 2010 in Century City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for VES) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for VES)
Bill Paxton through the years Actor Bill Paxton (L) poses with cast member Sigourney Weaver at the premiere of "Avatar," at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California on December 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Actor Bill Paxton arrives at HBO's 'Big Love' Season 5 premiere at Directors Guild of America on January 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/TERM/Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 4: Bill Paxton attends the UK premiere of 'Oblivion' at The BFI IMAX on April 04, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years Actor Bill Paxton speaks onstage during the 2009 Hamilton Behind The Camera awards held at The Highlands Club in the Hollywood & Highland Center on November 8, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/WireImage) (Tiffany Rose/WireImage via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Actors Ginnifer Goodwin, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Bill Paxton, and Chloe Sevigny attend HBO's "Big Love" Season 5 Premiere after party at Directors Guild Of America on January 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years Bill Paxton & Parents during "The Evening Star" Los Angeles Premiere at Mann National Theatre in Westwood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 19: The movie "Titanic", written and directed by James Cameron. Seen here, Bill Paxton as Brock Lovett. Initial USA theatrical wide release December 19, 1997. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 08: Bill Paxton attends the 2014 A+E Networks Upfront on May 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for A+E Networks) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for A+E Networks)
Bill Paxton through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Bill Paxton attends the world premiere of Titanic 3D at The Royal Albert Hall on March 27, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Bill Paxton through the years LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 9: "Elegy Part 2" -- Pictured: Bill Paxton as Frank Rourke. Kyle, Tommy and Rebecca must rescue Frank when he goes on a rogue mission to Mexico to locate intel linked to the murder of Kyle's father, on part 2 of the 2-part first season finale of TRAINING DAY, Saturday, May 20 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
