Parents of Deceased Woman Launch Lawsuit Against Nancy Grace

Earlier this year, a woman killed herself after being interviewed by CNN Headline News host Nancy Grace over the apparent abduction of her son. At the time (see this September NB posting for background), the relatives of Melinda Duckett were blasting Grace for her alleged role in driving the woman to suicide. They've since taken things a step further and launched a lawsuit against Grace:

Her parents in Lockport were outraged by the talk show hosts harsh, accusatory line of questioning. The segment aired just hours after her death.

Melinda's father, Jerry Eubank: "It was 3-4 hours after I heard that Mindy died and I'm watching this woman banging the table, and screaming about why aren't you telling us this, I mean she was judge, jury and executioner."

Melinda's mother, Beth Eubank: "She physically makes me ill. The night she aired the show on September 8th, it was less than four hours since Mindy's death, family members had not even been notified."

CNN had this response to the news that the Lockport couple is now suing Nancy Grace: "While we have no comment on pending litigation, we stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this matter."

Whatever Grace's role in the Duckett case has been, her relatives stand little chance of getting a verdict against the CNN host. I can't help wondering, though, if this suit continues whether it will give pause to the cable news channels thinking about revamping their lineups. Crime may bring viewers, but it's also playing with fire.