Nichelle Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson, is speaking out about the recent jury award of $13 million in her death. Although the state’s Tort Claims Act limits the amount the family can collect to $400,000, Johnson says the lawsuit is about accountability, not financial compensation.

A Local Angle

Nichols, a former Star Trek star, died in 2022, seven hours after being transferred from Gila Medical Center in Silver City to an assisted living facility. Johnson believes his mother would still be alive if she had been transferred to a better facility.

The Nichols family has filed another lawsuit against Health Tech Management Services, the former company that managed Gila Medical Center during Nichols’ brief stay. They allege cost-saving measures led to poor medical services, resulting in Nichols’ death.

Johnson emphasized that the lawsuits are not about financial compensation, but about ensuring that such incidents do not happen in the future. He hopes that the lawsuits will bring about change and accountability in the medical facilities.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.