Ed McMahon Sues For Elder Abuse, Malpractice And More

LOS ANGELES — Ed McMahon sued a hospital, two doctors and an investment tycoon Friday over a neck injury he has said has left him unable to work, a circumstance he has blamed for his recent money woes.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount, claiming negligence, battery, elder abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, two doctors, and the owner of a home where he says he fell in March 2007.

The former "The Tonight Show" sidekick claims that Cedars-Sinai and its doctors originally discharged him with a broken neck and didn't adequately conduct two surgeries. McMahon's suit states his cardiologist later discovered that his neck was broken.

Cedars-Sinai has not been served with the lawsuit and could not comment on the allegations, said Simi Singer, a hospital spokeswoman.

Also named in the lawsuit is Robert Day, who owns an investment firm and has been on Forbes' list of richest Americans in previous years, and his wife. McMahon claims a ramp-like staircase where he attended a dinner party was "unsafe" because it was poorly lit and lacked handrails.

A message left after hours at Day's company was not returned Friday afternoon.

The lawsuit gives new insights into the neck injuries McMahon discussed in a recent appearance on "Larry King Live." McMahon, 85, explained that he was unable to work as a pitchman because of his injuries _ and that is why he fell $644,000 behind on mortgage payments on his Beverly Hills home.

"If you spend more money than you make, you know what happens," McMahon said at the time. "You know, a couple of divorces thrown in, a few things like that. And, you know, things happen."

McMahon has had to undergo three surgeries to try to repair his neck, the lawsuit states. The most recent one was performed on July 11.

McMahon's suit includes letters mailed earlier this year to the hospital informing them a lawsuit could be filed.

"We had hoped to avoid a lawsuit, but our discussions were not fruitful and we were left with no other option. That being said, we believe our suit has great merit and we expect a favorable resolution," said Howard Bragman, spokesman for Ed McMahon.

McMahon's mounting money problems include a lawsuit against him by Citibank, which is trying to recoup nearly $200,000 it said it loaned McMahon and his wife, Pam.

Comments

[berrycooda]

09:24 PM on 07/20/2008

OH BOO HOO....Here's Ed.....
Better hurry and get some money somehow...have to keep that youngster with you some way.
Sell that bigggggg mansion you are trying to pay for at 85 yrs old and get an apt.
Can't leave your new wife without some money if you end up in a nursing home later because of lack of funds for a nurse.
If you had stayed with your other wife, maybe you wouldn't be so far in debt.
Why did you try to sue.....after you couldn't pay for your little tiny MANSION.....

Also....at 85 years old don't you think you should be better off financially. Most people retire at 65 and younger. Your soc. sec. check should help. (Elder abuse ... what a laugh...) Who is abusing you???
That usually applies to children neglecting parents....doesn't it...
I have to pay my own bills and so do other people. Wonder if we could go begging for help to pay
for our pitiful lifestyle. Sorry Ed...No mercy from me...Think you would have a little more pride....

[BlueandGreen]

08:53 PM on 07/20/2008

This is becoming a sad, pathetic spectacle .... I'm sorry about the medical woes, but Ed's financial problems don't elicit much sympathy. Plenty of regular folk struggling to pay bills, buy groceries and gas to get to work, and this former millionaire is crying poor because he couldn't manage his extravagant lifestyle and he's looking for others to take the blame? Please. Move into a little condo and tell your trophy wife to get a job.

[lexnekst]

10:50 AM on 07/20/2008

Guess he figured he wasn't losing that house. Been wearing that neckbrace ever since finances went down the shunker.

[Theda]

12:39 PM on 07/20/2008

He should do TV commercial voice-overs like Lauren Bacall, Orson Bean and other oldtimers who have made a fortune with their voices.
Ed's FACE doesn't need to be on-camera anymore, but he still has his voice.
And cut up those credit cards, Ed!

[JayZee]

10:37 AM on 07/20/2008

Question:

"How hard is it to diagnose a broken neck?"

'Doogie' Howser's Answer:

"Duh' ...I don't know.

Ed Mc McMahon is no better off than anyone else when it comes to a misdiagnosis.

[truthyguy]

08:34 AM on 07/20/2008

"McMahon, 85, explained that he was unable to work as a pitchman because of his injuries _ and that is why he fell $644,000 behind on mortgage payments on his Beverly Hills home."

In other words he in spite of having made 10s of millions, he is living hand to mouth, and is now looking for a free ride via some scumbag attorney.

[charlesdickens]

12:06 AM on 07/20/2008

It's over, Ed; you can't stay in the big house. Face the music and stop dreaming up ways to get the quick buck.

[mlaiuppa]

11:41 PM on 07/19/2008

One wonders what he wasted his money on if he has to work full time at age 85 to maintain his lifestyle.

Perhaps his lifestyle is way too extravagant. Perhaps he squandered too much money.

Maybe he should look to Jay Leno, Ed Begley Jr. or Bill Nigh for a lifestyle change.

[ultrabop]

07:44 PM on 07/19/2008

It's hard to feel sorry for a guy who made millions from stroking Johnny Carson.

[johnnygoodwud]

05:34 PM on 07/19/2008

ed what's with those glasses,,,,,,,,,,,you look like you're wearing a windshield. if i were ed, i asked 'carnack' what he predicts/

[MyThought]

05:28 PM on 07/19/2008

These old farts that marry young gold diggers and let them spend and spend - all in the name of an ego-boost......hope it was worth it Ed.

[DevilAdvocate]

05:04 PM on 07/19/2008

wow, the world is cold, would you say this to your grandparents? Shame on the world, no heart.... many bad things happen to people and they become homeless, job lost, become sick...Ed's no difference...yes, he had more money, but still... give folks a shot!

[GOPorganizedcrime]

04:33 PM on 07/19/2008

After reading about the circumstances that left Mr. McMahon incapacitated, including
medical malpractice, and an unbelievably dangerous home of someone who had the
money to keep the staircase well lit and at least with handrails, I say kudos to you Ed!
It takes alot of courage to stand up for your rights. I am behind Ed all the way and hope
he makes a full and speedy recovery. It's shocking how stupid and cheap rich people
can be at the expense of other people's safety.

[beekeeper]

04:04 AM on 07/20/2008

Personal responsibility does not discriminate.

[renatam]

03:41 PM on 07/19/2008

Boomers BEWARE. This is your wakeup call!

[renatam]

03:38 PM on 07/19/2008

I am fascinated that his wives don't seem to WORK, as most women do in contemporary life. Seems like Ed is stuck in some kind of time warp of privilege where he (his wives) feel he is some kind of entitled ICON who should play the game of life strictly on his own terms. I just saw him on a new commercial pitching something or other. To think he doesn't even own his own home at this point in his life, having mortgaged himself to the point where his home isn't secure -- is awful. Blaming everyone else for HIS failures instead of with grace as a mature person should do -- is more of why it is a good thing Americans are getting serious and (finally) seeing the vacuousness of our celebrity culture. Celebrities -- often uneducated and on a merry-go-round of privilege they have not earned (aka scientists, doctors, real musicians/dancers, teachers, etc.) the hard way -- are a diminishing return on our TIME and standards for what should be celebrated in American culture. This pity-party is unworthy of the fortunate life Ed was given. He should go away quietly and DOWNSIZE as all Americans are doing right now. He is not exempt from the travails we all face -- or an old age he clearly didn't plan for. That's taking Hollywood narcissism too far.

[kats]

05:06 PM on 07/19/2008

ITA, at the age of 85, why would anyone depend on a paycheck to pay the bills. He is living way beyond his means and now is looking for a bailout by suing. If you are unsteady and can't see well why would you be climbing a staircase without assistance?

[GeoLee]

02:02 AM on 07/20/2008

Ed McMahon attended Boston College and then graduated from the Catholic University ofAmerica and went on to become a Marine fighter pilot in WWII and Korea and then was in the Marine Reserves where I believe he became either a Colonel or Brigadier General. This is hardly the profile of an uneducated celbrity. He was smart enough to know better than to live way beyond his means. But then I don't think he was thinking with his brain based on his family life. Yes it is too bad that he has had such bad luck in recent years but he made some choices early on that were indicators of ego gone amok.

[InisLass]

03:04 PM on 07/19/2008

One point being overlooked in comments here is the part where his CARDIOLOGIST is the one who found his neck broken - NOT Cedars' docs. IF that is the case, then he DOES have a very legitimate complaint. A friend of mine is, for all intents and purposes, wheelchair-bound due to ER docs NOT catching her stroke symptoms for seven hours. At the ripe old age of 39, her right side is almost totally shot and so are her days as a chemist. These kind of issues are legitimate, IMO.

[rucognizant]

12:19 PM on 07/20/2008

HELLOOOOOOOOOO, There but foir the grace of god goes YOU!
I know 3 people who DIDN'T divorce & marry sweet young things, didn't outlive their incomes:
WHO had the very bad luck to encounter medical malpractice!
1. Is fortunate to be OK after at least a year walking with a cane due to a staph infection incurred during elective knee surgery! ( and pain) His job is an active one, was compromised by the physical disability.
2. After undergoing a stomach staple, to lose weight, and controlling her diabetes with diet rather than medication., she was ready to have both her knees replaced. Again staph infection, in her case, she almost died, spent one year in nursing homes, and now has a pin in one leg and can never bend that knee again. Her leg is also shorter so she needs a shoe with a lift.
3.A respected psycologist, had a non malignent tumor in her lung. During surgery they accidentally punctured her lung, AGAIN staph pneumonia infection! Coming out of the hospital she weighed 90 pounds, ( 35 lb shy of her normal weight) was in a wheel chair, on oxygen, and a year later is still recouperating at the home of one of her kids...........
Boomers are getting their knees & hip joints replaced like going to the dentist for a cleaning...........
My knees are beginning to give out, BUT I will hobble for a long while before I "elect" surgery!.
( Preboomer)

[RG5626]

07:28 PM on 07/21/2008

What is it with staph infections and knee surgery? My father had the same problem and was in the hosptal for months. Before the surgery he played golf five times a week. Afterwords, he never played a full 18 holes again.