On Wednesday, a Florida judge ruled that sharp-talking talk show host Nancy Grace can be videotaped while answering questions in a wrongful death lawsuit, but lawyers representing Melinda Duckett’s family can’t share the recording with “any third party or disclose any portion of the testimony without the federal magistrate’s permission.”
Nancy Grace and CNN are being sued by the parents of a woman who committed suicide after being badgered during an appearance on the pundit’s program in 2006. Grace had petitioned the court with a motion to bar cameras from taping her scheduled deposition. The Ducketts blame Grace for inflicting emotional distress on the 21-year-old Florida mother after her 2-year-old son Trenton went missing. Grace spoke sharply to Duckett and accused the woman of having a role in her child’s disappearance.
Duckett shot and killed herself the day after the taped interview broadcast and the case went on to inspire a “Ripped From The Headlines” episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
“We’re alleging that Grace caused [Melinda Duckett’s] death and caused emotional distress for her family,” Duckett family attorney Kara Skarupo told ABCNews.com Tuesday. “It’s a hard thing to prove but we think it’s important. They lost a daughter unnecessarily.”
Florida police had already questioned Melinda in her son’s disappearance. Trenton Duckett has never been found.