Producer Joel Silver sued for wrongful death of personal assistant

Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Famed Hollywood producer Joel Silver has been sued for the 2015 drowning death of his assistant during a star-studded party at an exclusive resort in Bora Bora.

The lawsuit, filed Jan. 18 in Los Angeles County, accuses Silver and Martin Herold, Silver's personal chef, of causing the wrongful death of Carmel Musgrove, Silver's 28-year-old personal assistant at the time. The lawsuit was filed by Musgrove's father, Ronald Musgrove.

According to the lawsuit, Musgrove flew to Bora Bora for work to attend a honeymoon function for Jennifer Anistion and her newlywed husband, Justin Theroux, as well as dozens of other people, including several of Silver's family members.

During the last day of her life, Musgrove is believed to have suffered heat stroke during a fishing trip in which she drank copious amounts of alcohol, provided by Silver. She later ingested cocaine and marijuana, which was provided to her by Herod in his bungalow, the lawsuit alleges.

Musgrove returned to her bungalow after leaving Herod's and then ordered matches from the hotel clerk. That was the last time anybody saw her alive, the lawsuit states.

She wasn't seen again until the next day when her nude body was eventually found by hotel staff floating on the banks of a lagoon about 500 yards from her bungalow.

No signs of trauma were found on Musgrove's body and French officials who conducted the investigation said the factors in her death involved alcohol, drugs, fatigue and unfavorable weather conditions when she went for a swim.

The lawsuit blames Silver for providing alcohol and creating work conditions that may have contributed to Musgrove's fatigue the day of her death. It also blamed Herod for providing cocaine and marijuana.

Musgrove's parents are seeking damages related to the "varied logistic, economic, personal and emotional consequences" their daughter's death has had on their lives.

Silver has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.