Larry Busacca/NBCUniversal Cable EntertainmentMelissa Rivers wants answers—and she's not afraid to take action to uncover the truth.
E! News has learned that the 46-year-old actress has retained the NYC law firm Gair to explore a wrongful death suit against the persons and entities who may be responsible for Joan Rivers' death. We're told that Melissa, whose rep previously confirmed her plans to file a multimillion-dollar suit against the New York endoscopy clinic where her mother suffered cardiac arrest, is in the early stages of taking legal action.
While a judgment in Melissa's favor could mean millions in monetary damages, we're told that Rivers is not looking for any financial gain. "It's not about the money," a source tells E! News. "For Melissa, this is about getting an answer about why this happened and making sure it never happens again. The only way to get these answers is to file a lawsuit. Melissa wants answers—not money."
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner attributed Joan's death on Sept. 4 at the age of 81 to "therapeutic complication," the exact cause being "anoxic encephalopathy due to hypoxic arrest during laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with propofol sedation for evaluation of voice changes and gastroesophageal reflux disease."
However, in spite of the coroner's report, Rivers still has concerns over her mother's death—namely, what decisions were made, who made them and what precautions were taken when Joan arrived at the Yorkville Endoscopy on Manhattan's Upper East Side on the morning of Aug. 28. At some point during the procedure, the legendary comedian and Fashion Police host stopped breathing and was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was placed on life support. One week later, the beloved star passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends.
"This shouldn't have happened," the source continued, noting that Melissa sees the lawsuit as part of a large effort to change policy on a "federal level" with regard to how private clinics function and are regulated. "It was a completely treatable and avoidable complication."
Meanwhile, Melissa is currently back in L.A. and is trying to mend her emotional wounds by focusing on her son Cooper, as well as her work (she previously confirmed that E!'s Fashion Police will return in 2015).
"As my son Cooper and I mourn the loss of my mother, we want to thank everyone for the beautiful cards and flowers conveying heartfelt messages and condolences, which continue to arrive from around the world and through social media," Melissa wrote on WhoSay Sept. 17. "My mother would have been overwhelmed by the scope and depth of the love that people have expressed for her. It is certainly helping to lift our spirits during this time."