Jim Carrey Illegally Obtained Drugs to Provide to Late Girlfriend Cathriona White, New Lawsuit Claims

Mark Burton is suing for wrongful death and violation of the drug dealer liability act

By Francesca Bacardi Sep 19, 2016 7:02 PMTags
Jim Carrey, Cathriona WhiteMaxNY/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

A new lawsuit filed by Jim Carrey's late girlfriend's husband, Mark Burton, claims the comedian illegally obtained prescription drugs for Cathriona White.

According to the suit, White, who committed suicide last September, was allegedly receiving prescription drugs from Carrey, who used the "bogus name" Arthur King to obtain the illicit drugs. Burton, who is suing for wrongful death and violation of the drug dealer liability act, claims Carrey gave her the drugs "despite the fact that he knew full well that Ms. White was ill equipped to ingest and manage highly addictive prescription drugs outside the care of a licensed physician; was prone to depression; and had previously attempted to take her own life," according to court documents obtained by E! News.

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Burton, who was separated from White at the time of her death, also claims Carrey "took steps to conceal and obfuscate his involvement and culpability in Ms. White's untimely and tragic death."

According to the allegations, Carrey or his assistants monitored White's comings and goings from her house via surveillance cameras, but failed to report that she hadn't left the house in more than a day. They also state that the coroner "determined that the drugs had been obtained by defendant Carrey under a bogus name." As a result, Carrey tried to "cover-up his conduct and complicity in her death" by sending a "bogus text message on September 27, 2015 to White (who was already deceased) pretending as though he had misplaced the drugs and insinuating White may have taken them from Carrey without his knowledge..."

E! News has reached out to Carrey's rep and attorney for comment.

"We will be calling on the Los Angeles DA to open an investigation into Mr. Carrey's role in the death of Ms. White," Michael Avenatti attorney for the Burton, tells E! News. "We look forward to the evidence and facts supporting the allegations in the case coming to light."

When news of White's death broke, Carrey released an emotional statement. "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of my sweet Cathriona," Carrey told E! News in a statement. "She was a truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil, to whom loving and being loved was all that sparkled. My heart goes out to her family and friends and to everyone who loved and cared about her. We have all been hit with a lightning bolt."

If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.