SANTA MARIA, Calif., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A dead woman's family sued Michael Jackson and a Santa Maria, Calif., hospital, claiming the gravely ill woman was moved to accommodate the pop star.
The complaint, filed two years after Manuela Gomez Ruiz died, claimed abuse of celebrity status against Jackson, The Los Angeles Times said. The Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, also was named in the suit that seeks unspecified damages.
The family previously said publicly that Ruiz, 73, admitted for a heart attack and on life support, was moved from the trauma unit for Jackson, whose Feb. 15, 2005, admission to the hospital for flu-like symptoms forced the cancellation of a court session in his child molestation trial, the Times said. Ruiz suffered a second heart attack and died that day.
A statement from the hospital said the suit, filed last Thursday, was without merit and is "another frivolous claim to generate publicity."
While offering sympathy to the Ruiz family, the statement said, "Patient care and safety is always our priority."
The suit alleged both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, elder abuse, false imprisonment and conspiracy.
