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Prince's Heirs Sue Hospital, Walgreens for Wrongful Death

By Molly Zilli, Esq. on May 04, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Whether you loved songs like "Purple Rain" or not, there's no denying Prince was an iconic musician of the 80s and 90s. And whether you knew him as Prince, the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, the love symbol, or one of his other many names, he amassed a following that continues today and is still reeling from his sudden death.

Although his death occurred over two years ago, the legal repercussions of that event are just now materializing. Despite the fact that no criminal charges have been filed, a number of civil actions have been. In one such suit, the heirs to Prince's estate are suing a hospital and Walgreens for wrongful death.

Prince's Accidental Overdose

After the famed artist was found unresponsive at his home in Minnesota, the medical examiner determined that Prince died from an accidental overdose of the powerful painkiller, fentanyl. Investigators, however, have been unable to determine how Prince got a hold of the drug which is reportedly much stronger than both morphine and heroin.

Failure to Diagnose and Treat

Despite the unknown source of the fentanyl, Prince's heirs have taken aim at Trinity Medical Center in Illinois, and Walgreens. The lawsuit says that a doctor and a pharmacist at Trinity failed to properly investigate, diagnose, and treat the singer when he was seen for a separate overdose that occurred just days before his fatal overdose.

They also claim that two Walgreens pharmacists improperly dispensing prescription medication to Prince. In a related case, one of Prince's doctors recently agreed to settle a federal civil suit that accused him of writing an illegal prescription.

Prince's death led to a battle over who will inherit his $200 million estate, since he died without a will. Eventually, his sister and five half-siblings were named as his rightful heirs. The legendary musician won seven Grammy's and sold over 100 million records during his career. A successful wrongful death suit could result in a huge award or settlement.

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