Back in September, a court determined Nick Gordon was “legally responsible” for the death of girlfriend Bobbi Kristina Brown, and now the judge in the wrongful-death lawsuit is ordering Gordon to pay $36 million to the family of the late Whitney Houston’s only daughter.
In January 2015, Brown was found unresponsive, face down in a bathtub in a Georgia home she shared with Gordon, and she stayed in hospice care for seven months before passing away. She was 22 years old at the time, and for a brief period she existed in a medically induced coma. Her death was eerily similar to the way her mother died three years earlier. In an almost-unbelievable coincidence, Gordon was present at the scene of both Bobbi Kristina’s near-drowning and Houston’s death.
Gordon has consistently denied any wrongdoing and was never charged with a crime. Her estate later filed a $50-million wrongful-death civil lawsuit against him.
READ MORE: Bobbi Kristina Brown death: Fiancé Nick Gordon ‘responsible,’ says judge
Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford had said in September that because Gordon failed to appear in court on two scheduled court dates, anything alleged by the plaintiff was admitted through omission, 11alive reported.
ET Canada confirms that the judge in the case determined damages at $36,251,918.50, close to the $40 million which the Brown family estate had been seeking in its wrongful-death suit against Gordon, who was not present in court when the decision was read.
WATCH BELOW: More on Bobbi Kristina Brown
Bobbi Kristina’s grieving father, Bobby Brown, was among those who were in court to testify Thursday. Accompanying him was another one of his daughters, La’Princia Brown, one of Bobbi Kristina’s childhood friends.
“I just miss her,” said La’Princia, recalling one of the final moments she saw her sister. “I played music to her a lot. I could see her eyes looking around the room. She would cough. She would yawn. It didn’t seem right that she couldn’t communicate. She’d blink and more tears could come. I feel like she could see me but couldn’t say anything.”
An economist was also present, who later determined the value of Bobbi Kristina’s net worth and what her potential future income would have been.
According to USA TODAY, the tally is broken down into several categories including conversion (i.e. stealing of money and assets), which the judge valued at $1.575 million along with $250,000 in punitive damages; assault and battery, valued at $1.37 million; an additional $4.2 million “because Gordon was under the influence of drugs and alcohol”; pain and suffering, valued at $13 million; and loss of life, valued at $15 million. (All amounts in USD.)
READ MORE: Bobby Brown wants Bobbi Kristina’s fiancé jailed over her death
The lawsuit had alleged Bobbi Kristina “died due to a violent altercation” with Gordon, “after which he placed her in a bathtub, unconscious, after he injected her with a toxic mixture.”
“We have said all along that Nick Gordon was responsible for the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown and the harm of losing a child is immeasurable,” added lawyer Christopher Brown.
Following the verdict, Bobby Brown released the following statement through Terrett: “I am pleased with the outcome of today’s court proceedings,” says Brown. “I do know that Mr. Gordon will be unable to slander my daughter’s name in the future or obtain any benefits from the use of Krissy’s name. Finally, I do need for the District Attorney’s Office to step up and begin the criminal prosecution of Mr. Gordon. The delay in that matter is of great concern to me and my family. We need for District Attorney Howard to act now.”
Earlier this year, Gordon spoke about the death on Dr. Phil. After that interview aired, Bobby Brown joined the wrongful-death lawsuit against Gordon.
With files from Chris Jancelewicz and ET Canada
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