Rocker Eddie Money’s family is suing the University of Southern California’s Keck Hospital for medical malpractice and wrongful death, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Money, whose real name Edward J. Mahoney, died at the age of 70 Sept. 13, 2019. He’s best known for his hit songs “Two Tickets To Paradise,” Baby Hold On,” “Think I’m in Love” and “Take Me Home Tonight.” Prior to his death, Money had been diagnosed and was being treated for stage 4 esophageal cancer.
Money’s family, listed as his heirs to his estate, include his wife Laurie Harris Mahoney and his children Jessica, Zachary, Edward, Desmond and Matthew, filed this 11-page complaint alleging that doctors and medical personnel at USC’s Keck Hospital failed to properly diagnose and treat his condition.
Money’s family alleges that from June 4 to Sept. 13, 2019, he was being treated at the hospital for a cardiac status and other conditions. The staff at the hospital “negligently, recklessly and carelessly examined, diagnosed” the singer’s condition, according to the filing, contributing to his “untimely and unnecessary death.” Among other things, it complaint alleges the hospital staff failed to evaluate, recognize and treat “the fluid aspiration and pneumonia” conditions that made his subsequent surgery inadvisable.
After being released from the hospital, Money’s family says his condition worsened and he suffered from persistent infection and fevers and ultimately had to be readmitted to the hospital’s cancer center. The suit is seeking loss of earnings, medical expenses and other special damages.
Officials at USC Keck Hospital did not respond to Billboard’s request for comment.
