Toxic Mold Killed Brittany Murphy, Actress' Mom Sues Ex-Attorneys

Did toxic mold kill Brittany Murphy? Her mother thinks so, which is why she's now suing the attorneys that represented Brittany in a suit against the builders of the home in which she died.

Sharon Murphy claims they should have told her about a possible wrongful death suit when the lawsuit settled in January 2011. The law firm of Steiner & Libo also "should have known that Brittany and Simon had died [as] the result of complications associated with the [home]."

Recall that Brittany Murphy and her husband died within months of one another -- both of pneumonia.

If the Brittany Murphy mold lawsuit seems a little strange, it is. Her mother is suing the actress' ex-attorneys, not the builders. Here's a breakdown of why:

1. When Brittany died, she was suing the builders of her home.
2. When she died, the lawsuit lived on through her estate. Her mother is in charge of her estate.
3. Her mother settled that lawsuit in January, and as a result waived the estate's right to file a wrongful death suit against the builders.
4. She thinks the attorneys should have warned her that she had a possible wrongful death suit on her hands.

But the attorneys didn't know that toxic mold killed Brittany Murphy. The coroner found no evidence of mold during either autopsy, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Sharon Murphy also didn't believe mold was the cause of her daughter's death.

In fact, she refused to allow the L.A. health department to inspect the home at the request of the coroner.

Still, she thinks the attorneys should have deduced that the deaths were related to the home. Their failure to do so potentially cost her a significant amount of cash.

If you're scratching your head, a judge may, too. Which is why there's no telling what a court will do with the Brittany Murphy mold lawsuit

Related Resources:

• Mom: Mold killed Brittany Murphy (Detroit Free Press)
• Toxic Mold / Black Mold (FindLaw)
• Brittany Murphy, Simon Monjack Deaths Not Linked To Mold (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)