Local News in Brief : ‘Fatal Vision’ Suit Filed

Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, the former Green Beret physician convicted of killing his wife and children, is being sued by his slain wife’s parents, who want to claim a $325,000 settlement he is getting from the author of a book about the slayings.

Mildred and Alfred G. Kassab filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, seeking an order impounding the settlement, as well as past and future proceeds, from the best-selling book, “Fatal Vision.”

MacDonald’s attorney, Gary Bostwick, said Monday that he was unaware of the suit but was not surprised to hear it had been filed.

The Kassabs claim they “have suffered great and irreparable harm at the hands of (MacDonald). . . , losing their loving daughter and granddaughters early in life.”

“It would work further outrage for (MacDonald) . . . to be financially enriched from the telling of his horrible crimes,” the suit added.

Also named in the suit was the book’s author, Joe McGinniss, who settled MacDonald’s breach-of-contract suit earlier this year after the trial ended in a mistrial. McGinniss’ attorney, John Sturgeon, could not be reached for comment.

MacDonald was convicted in 1979 of the 1970 slayings of his wife, Colette, and daughters Kimberly and Kristen.