Melissa Rivers, the daughter of comedian Joan Rivers, has hired a New York law firm to investigate the circumstances behind her mother’s death from a complication during an outpatient throat procedure, the firm said on Tuesday.

The investigation could ultimately lead Melissa Rivers to file a civil lawsuit against the clinic where her mother was treated.

“In order to fully determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Joan Rivers, we confirm that our firm has been engaged by Melissa Rivers and her family,” Ben Rubinowitz, a partner at Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf, Bloom & Rubinowitz, said in a statement.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Rubinowitz declined to comment further or say if Melissa Rivers intended to file a lawsuit.

Rivers, 81, died in a hospital on Sept. 4, a week after she stopped breathing during an examination of the back of her throat and vocal cords at Manhattan’s Yorkville Endoscopy.

New York’s medical examiner determined the brash comedian, who helped pave the way for women in comedy, died from anoxic encephalopathy, a condition caused when brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and there is brain damage.

Following Rivers’ death, the State Health Department launched an investigation into the clinic where Rivers was treated.

Melissa Rivers co-hosted cable network E!’s series “Fashion Police” with her mother before her death.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount