Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Nick Gordon Regarding Death of Bobbi Kristina Brown
WHITFIELD: All right, stunning new allegations in the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown. An amended wrongful death lawsuit now accusing Brown's boyfriend Nick Gordon of giving her a toxic cocktail that knocked her unconscious and then putting her face down in a bathtub. Brown is the only daughter of the late Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown, died almost two weeks ago in a hospice months after she was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her Georgia home. Joining us right now from New York is CNN's Sara Ganim. So the suit makes claims of physical abuse as well. And how are these allegations being supported, do we know?</s>SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Really disturbing new details to support the allegation of physical abuse in their relationship and also very controlling behavior on the part of Nick Gordon. The lawsuit claimed that he installed cameras and audio recorders so he could watch and listen to Bobbi Kristina and what she was doing when he wasn't home. It also says in the days leading up to the incident, where she was found in the bathtub, that Nick Gordon beat Bobbi Kristina so badly in front of friends that he broke the couch that she was sitting on, also broke a tooth in her mouth, and then dragged her upstairs by her hair, that there was blood found on the walls of the home that they shared together. Then the incident on January 31st where she was found in the bathtub unresponsive. The lawsuit claims that earlier in the day, at around 6:00 a.m., that Nick Gordon had come home, that he had been on an all- night cocaine bender. They got into another argument. He was upset, and that the allegations in the lawsuit are that he gave her, quote, "a toxic cocktail rendering her unconscious and then put her face-down in a bathtub of cold water, causing her to suffer brain damage." Now the lawsuit goes on to say she had another broken tooth when she was found unresponsive in that bathtub and that there was also a dustpan at the bottom of that tub. And it says that afterward he got into bed and laid his head on a female guest's ankle and stated, quote, "Now I want a pretty little white girl like you." Of course, Fred, we know that Bobbi Kristina brown never woke up again after being found unresponsive in that bathtub. Doctors diagnosed her with, quote, "global and irreversible brain damage" and she died about six months later.</s>WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh, incredibly disturbing allegation. Thank you so much Sara Ganim. We appreciate that. Let's talk more about the legal implications of this case. Joining me right now is CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Phillip Holloway. All right, so this is a civil action, not a criminal complaint, and it's seeking $10 million. It almost seems premature that you have a civil case before you have a criminal case because we haven't heard anything about any criminal charges or allegations. Is this out of order or is this fairly typical?</s>PHILLIP HOLLOWAY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Not necessarily. Keep in mind, this happened back in January. So the lawyers who are representing now the estate of Bobbi Kristina have had quite a long time to do perhaps their own independent investigations. They've alleged they have at least some evidence, we don't know what that evidence might be, but they've alleged that they at least have some evidence that he was culpable in her death. So it's not necessarily premature because there has been several months since the incident occurred and when the lawsuit was filed.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. So, I guess the burden of proof, all of this is very different in a criminal case versus in a civil complaint. What is likely the pathway here? Would there still have to be a support of evidence, whether it be testimony, eyewitness accounts, or physical evidence in order to be successful in this suit?</s>HOLLOWAY: Yes, you always have to have enough evidence to meet your burden of proof. And in a civil case, the standard of proof is the preponderance of the evidence, basically if you take the scales of justice and tilt one just slightly more than the other, that would meet the standard of proof. Of course in a criminal case, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is required. Take, for example, the O. J. Simpson case. He was found fought not guilty in the criminal case, but he was found civilly liable for wrongful death because of the lower burden of proof. So whether it's a criminal case or a civil case, there has to be evidence to support the allegations.</s>WHITFIELD: OK, and these are very strong and disturbing allegations, and Nick Gordon's attorney has this statement saying "The recent lawsuit against Nick is slanderous and meritless. Nick has been heartbroken and destroyed over the loss of his love, and it's shameful that such baseless allegations have been presented publicly." How does the estate now move forward with its allegations and its suit?</s>HOLLOWAY: They have to wait for Nick Gordon to file an answer. And he has an attorney in the civil case and they will have to file some type of answer.</s>WHITFIELD: This statement is not that answer?</s>HOLLOWAY: That's correct. This statement was from attorneys that would be representing him if there were any criminal charges that might come. But his civil attorney will have to answer the allegations contained in the lawsuit. And from that this case will move forward through the discovery process, potentially depositions, written interrogatories, things of that nature.</s>WHITFIELD: How long does this typically take?</s>HOLLOWAY: Years. This could take quite a long time if it ever even proceeds to trial.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Phillip Holloway, thanks so much. Always good to see you, appreciate it. All right, still to come, Congress facing a mid-September deadline to vote on the Iran nuclear deal. This week President Barack Obama learned Senator Chuck Schumer, a key Democrat, will be voting no.