Judge Shuts Down Shannen Doherty's Plea To Keep Media Out Of Courtroom During Trial Over Fear It Will Harm Her Health
July 13 2021, Published 12:26 p.m. ET
Shannen Doherty, who has terminal cancer, feared her health would be at risk with a packed courtroom when she testified later today but a judge shut down her request to limit the number of people.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has shut down the motion to exclude the media from being inside the trial.
As we first reported, Doherty is suing State Farm General Insurance over her claims they screwed her out of $3.8 million.
In court, the actress claims the company refused to pay for necessary repairs to her Malibu home after the Woolsey Fire. She was furious with their alleged lack of care for her especially since at the time Doherty was in remission after dealing with breast cancer.
In the middle of the lawsuit, she revealed the heartbreaking news that her cancer had come back aggressively, and it was terminal.
State Farm claim they paid Doherty the proper account due on her policies. They say they paid over a million for repairs and for her to temporarily stay in a Venice Beach rental.
Hours before the trial is set to start, Doherty filed a motion asking the court to not allow members of the media inside the court. She said she understands “numerous members of the jury, court staff, and attorneys present at the trial.”
However, she said it would be best to kick out journalists.
Shannen wrote a declaration to the court to explain, “I am presently diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. As a result of my medical condition, I understand that I may be more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus or experience worse symptoms upon contracting the virus than otherwise healthy individuals.”
However, the judge wasn’t swayed by Doherty’s fear for her health. The order read, ‘Doherty fails to show that allowing the public to attend trial will pose a health risk, let alone that any conceivable risk outweighs the public’s well-established right to attend civil trials.”
The judge said Doherty provided no medical testimony or scientific grounds for her request. “Without such evidence, the Court has no basis to conclude that conducting trial in accordance with established procedures will endanger anyone’s health. Doherty also fails to account for why she believes certain individuals—i.e. the media—risk her health, while others—such as the parties’ jury consultants and witnesses—do not,” he added.
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The judge said he was confident the court had procedures in place to make sure Doherty was kept safe.
The trial starts today and is expected to last 3 days. It's unclear what day Doherty is expected to take the stand.
