Bobbi Kristina Brown and boyfriend Nick Gordon attend the premiere of the motion picture “Sparkle” at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in 2012.
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Nick Gordon has been ruled civilly liable for Bobbi Kristina Brown’s death in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her estate a year ago.
In January 2015, Brown was found face-down and immersed in a bathtub at her Georgia home; she was taken to hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma, but her condition deteriorated and she died in July. After spending almost six months in a coma, she died in hospice care last July 26 at the age of 22.
Gordon can appeal the judge’s ruling, Ware said by email. “All of Nicholas Gordon’s pleadings are struck and judgment by default is hereby ordered against Nicholas Gordon”.
Because Gordon had failed to appear twice, Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford said Friday that anything alleged by the plaintiff is admitted through omission.
Speaking outside of court, Bobbi Kristina’s aunt Leolah Brown added: “It’s been a long time. All I ever wanted was answers relating to who and what caused my daughter’s death”, her father Bobby Brown said in a statement.
Browns estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gordon a year ago, alleging he beat her up after a “cocaine and drinking binge”. Two attorneys representing him against any criminal allegations that may be filed said they were not involved in the civil case.
An autopsy in March revealed her cause of death was due to drug intoxication and immersion in water, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“I am pleased with the outcome of today’s court proceedings”, Brown tells PEOPLE in a statement. The only thin left to prove is the value of her life.
Gordon has not been criminally charged.
A jury trial will be set to determine how much Gordon will be required to pay in damages, the judge’s order stated. “We intend to do that”, Ware told reporters in a press conference held outside of court.
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The lawsuit sought $50m (£38m) in compensation, punitive damages and the return of Browns property, including a valuable ring.
