(Posted by Christopher Murray on June 15, 1999 at exactlly 13:36:42 Eastern)
The Hart Family Officially Sues The World Wrestling Federation
As expected, the family of deceased professional wrestler Owen Hart officially announced a wrongful death lawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation in connection with Owen's untimely death at the WWF Over The Edge pay-per-view in Kansas City, MO at the Kemper Arena back on Sunday, May 23, 1999. The Hart family held a press conference on Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in downtown Kansas City to announce its intentions. The widow, children, and parents of Owen Hart filed the lawsuit on Tuesday morning in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, MO. The lawsuit alleges that the World Wrestling Federation was negligent in providing safe and proper equipment for the stunt that cost Owen his life. The 118-page lawsuit lists 46 separate accounts against 13 defendants. Among those named along with the WWF are the companies that manufactured the harness and cabling system as well as those responsible for setting up the rigging.
At the press conference, Owen's widow Martha Hart stated, "My children have lost their father, and I have lost the love of my life, because of the greed of the WWF and its insistence that its wrestlers take ever-greater chances to attract entertainment dollars in this era of extreme sports. My hope is that this lawsuit will help prevent more loss of life and that other sports families will not have to endure the kind of pain we've experienced."
The Hart family cannot name a dollar amount for the lawsuit under Missouri Rule 55.05. Therefore, the Hart family requests that a jury determines damages that are "fair and reasonable."
Also in the lawsuit, the Hart family claims the WWF and the other defendants in the suit be held accountable for punitive damages since the Harts claim they ignored safety to increase ticket sales and cable television viewership.
Neither the Hart family nor their lawyers (Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb of Kansas City as well as Edward Pipella and Pamela Fischer of Canada) would comment any further on the case. The World Wrestling Federation has yet to make a statement on the lawsuit, but is expected to do within the next few days.
Hart Family Sues WWF
or
The Unwrapped Undertaker
