A United States federal district judge denied a motion to dismiss a $10 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Rebecca Zahau. Ms. Zahau’s body was found hanging at an infamous Coronado mansion on July 23, 2011.
The lawsuit alleges that Rebecca Zahau’s death was not a suicide, but rather a murder committed or orchestrated by family members of Rebecca Zahau’s rich boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. Rebecca Zahau’s nude body was found dangling from a second-story balcony in the Coronado mansion owned by her boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. According to the lawsuit, the Zahau family refused to accept the results of the County Sherriff’s investigation which concluded the death was a suicide stemming from guilt over the death of Jonah’s six-year old son who died under Rebecca’s watch and only two days before her apparent suicide.
The Zahau family originally filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2013, alleging that the ex-wife and brother of Zahau’s millionaire boyfriend conspired to batter Zahau, and then covered up her death. The original wrongful death lawsuit was dismissed for failing to “to state a claim of wrongful death based on a conspiracy to batter.” Federal Judge Thomas Whelan denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint, holding that looking at the claims in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the factual allegations are sufficient to support the conspiracy theory.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Dina struck Zahau on the back of the head four times with a blunt object, and Adam carried her into the house, where they proceeded to strip off Zahau’s clothes and bound and gagged her. Adam is alleged to have tossed her off the balcony and, at Dina’s instructions, painted the odd message, “She saved him. Can you save her” on the door. The Zahau family’s attorney performed an independent autopsy who found four blows to the back of the head that were allegedly missed by the San Diego Coroner.
If you believe someone you love has died as the result of an intentional act or from the negligence of someone else, you have the right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against that party. Wrongful death lawsuits can be difficult; which is why you need experienced and aggressive attorneys on your side. Our wrongful death lawsuit lawyers will work fight for you so that the culpable parties are held accountable for their actions.
Call us today at 619-512-5995 in San Diego or 951-200-4630 in Riverside or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.