Ed McMahon Allowed to Sue Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

In Los Angeles, a judge ruled that the former The Tonight Show sidekick, Ed McMahon, has the right to sue Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on the grounds of negligence and elder abuse.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John P. Shook denied the defendant's motion to require McMahon to gather more evidence. McMahon is now pursuing a lengthy list of accusations.

The 85-year-old entertainer is accusing Cedars-Sinai of fraud, battery, elder abuse, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation. McMahon claims he did not receive adequate care after suffering a severe injury to the neck last year, which led to him being unable to work. Due to the sub par care, McMahon had to endure three traumatic surgeries.

In a letter from McMahon's attorney to Cedars-Sinai, it states, "Assuming you carry the minimum [insurance] limits required by [hospital] by-laws of $1 million per claim, you do not have anywhere near enough insurance coverage for the McMahons' claims given the size of Ed's economic losses alone due to his inability to work."

Shook told McMahon he is able to request punitive damages, and gave the respondent 20 days to respond.

McMahon himself is the target of three separate lawsuits. McMahon is the most recent celebrity to be caught up in the mortgage and credit crisis and is being sued by lenders for defaulting on loans and not paying bills. In order to survive, McMahon sold his house, but his publicist did not provide the selling price.