Casey's children and his brother are suing Jean Kasem, claiming her actions led to his death in 2014.
- Nov 27, 2015
AceShowbiz - Casey Kasem's widow Jean Kasem is being sued by his three children from a previous marriage and his brother for wrongful death. Kerri, Julie and Michael Kasem along with their uncle Mouner are alleging that Jean's actions led to their father's death in 2014.
In a suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, November 25, Casey's children and brother accused Jean of elder abuse and inflicting emotional distress on the children by restricting access to their father before his passing. The suit stated, "Casey's early death occurred as a direct and proximate result of Jean's neglect and physical abuse of Casey." The suit seeks more than $250,000 in damage.
The suit came after prosecutors declined to charge Jean with elder abuse earlier this year. "We would rather see her in jail than receive one dime," Kerri Kasem said. "We don't care about the money. We care about justice."
According to the suit, in the months before Casey's death, Jean repeatedly left him in various hospitals for days despite that he was ready to be discharged. It also stated that Jean transported Casey's body to Norway, where it was buried in an unmarked grave, although he wished to be buried at a Los Angeles cemetery.
Casey's children and brother are seeking "fair recompense for the suffering they personally endured from witnessing the abuse and its painful and damaging physical effect on their beloved father and brother, and the gross treatment and disposition of Casey Kasem's remains in an unmarked grave in a distant land unknown to him or his family."
"What she did to my father is reprehensible," Kerri said, "It's disgusting. It's horrific." She also hoped their lawsuit would raise awareness about elder abuse. "People are going through this across the country every single day," she added.
Jean's attorney H. Michael Soroy hasn't commented on the issue yet.
