Gathers Suits Consolidated in Court
The two lawsuits in connection with the death of Hank Gathers were consolidated Thursday in the Southwest District of Los Angeles County Superior Court in Torrance.
The multimillion-dollar suits, filed on behalf of the Gathers’ family and Gathers’ estate and son, will be heard as one case should there be a trial.
A motion for an early trial date, filed by family attorneys, was ruled premature because the court has not yet heard an objection--or demurrer--to the suits filed by attorneys representing the Kerlan- Jobe clinic. That hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.
Attorney Ken Wolf said his clients are entitled to an early trial date because a minor--Gathers’ 6-year-old son, Aaron Crump--is involved. Wolf expects the court to set a trial date for early June.
The court also ruled that Martin Krimsky and Adrian Moody, attorneys who practice in Philadelphia and represent the son and the estate, can act as trial counsel.
Gathers, a Loyola Marymount basketball player, collapsed March 4 while playing in a West Coast Conference tournament game and died less than two hours later.
An autopsy determined that the cause of death was cardiomyopathy, a heart disorder.
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