Exclusive: Lawyer: Gary Coleman's Wife May Not Have Had Authority to 'Pull Plug'
Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.com
Gary Coleman's wife, Shannon Price, may not have had the right to remove her husband from life support on Friday, the actor's lawyer tells UsMagazine.com.
"Some people have raised the issue that they saw Gary and Shannon on Divorce Court and now there's some questions about whether or not they were married at the time of the death and whether [Shannon] had the authority to pull the plug at the hospital," attorney Randy Kester says. The two – who secretly wed in 2007 after meeting on the set of Church Ball the year before – appeared on the court show in 2008 in an attempt to save their marriage.
PHOTOS: Look back on Gary's life and career
"Some people in the public are raising issues whether she had authority to do that and if she has authority to be making funeral arrangements, and exactly where she fits into his estate," he adds. "I think there's going to be some developing controversy about some issues of authority."
Kester says he's not sure of Price's authority yet -- and may not know for awhile. "Everyone is out there searching for a will, and I haven't seen one yet."
Coleman's estranged parents -- whom he sued for $1.3 million in 1989 for stealing a portion of his fortune -- will attend the actor's funeral, to be held Friday or Saturday in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
Kester says Coleman's family "seem to be doing OK" while dealing with his death at age 42 from a brain hemorrhage. Listen to the 911 call.
"It's been kind of hard, you know?" continued Kester. "There are a lot of emotions surrounding all of it."
UsMagazine.com exclusively reported Tuesday that Coleman's fatal fall was caused by weakness from an intense 4-hour dialysis session to treat his congenital kidney disease.
PHOTOS: Other celebs gone too soon
Price, 24, wrote in a statement that it she was "very grateful for all the wonderful support [from fans]... This is so comforting to the family to know how beloved he still is."
For more details about Coleman's bizarre marriage to Price, how he asked Ron Jeremy for sex advice and how Coleman ignored doctor's orders despite his failing health, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands today.
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41It was reported last night that Mr. Coleman was lucid enough after entering the hospital to execute an advance health care directive that granted his ex-wife the authority to make his end-of-life decisions. Her authority as his health care agent is valid regardless of whether they were married or divorced.
To quote a song.... "Money Money Money Money.. MONEY!" Nuff said. Enjoy your Karma worlds 2nd ugliest woman ive ever seen
June 02, 2010 - 8:24pm Bo Says:++++++++ Bo IF they weren't divorced than there would not be divorce documents! His parents are not who brought this story to light, his fans were and ET showed proof that they were divorced. this "woman" did not have the authority to pull the plug
The 911 tape is awful. she did not even sound upset. She sounded completely normal like she was talking to a friend! She won't even put pressure on his head!
Anna SHE WAS NOT HIS WIFE THEY WERE DIVORCED!!! SHE HAD NO AUTHORITY TO PULL THE PLUG!!! SHE IS NOT FIRST IN LINE FOR ANYTHING!! This woman is a horrid person! They were divorced 2 yrs ago! They were even on DIVORCE COURT!!! Look it up on YOU TUBE!! I am willing to bed SHE caused his fall! I also agree with others that she SHOULD have taken him to those appointments! ANYONE who knows ANYTHING about dialysis knows that it weakens a person and they shouldn't be driving afterward.
Shannon "Price" was all about money. Just think he could've still been here oh wll that's a loss.
Gary Coleman got dialysis every day, and I am sure had many, many, different people drive him over the years. They were on divorce court but not for a divorce but to have help saving their marriage. His estranged parents are looking for someone to sue.
Shows how much she cared about him. What a fraud! I really can't say much other than s "SHAM".
They didn't even keep Gary Coleman alive LONG enough to decide to donate his organs!!!! You would think Gary Coleman, of ALL people would want his eyes, heart or whatever could benefit someone to go to them. A COMA patient is a great donor. But NO they YANKED the plug on his before getting a 2nd opinion OR having his organs donated!!!
I'm so sick of hearing about this story!
I can see it now, Gary's estranged parents will be on TV suing Shannon. There's no sizable residuals from DS. Shannon said she was sick. Some people get sick at the sight of blood.
Oh please, there's no story here. While I believe his parents loved him I don't think they have any business saying anything or asking questions. Gary hadn't contacted them in 15 yrs. That relationship had been severed by him and it went deeper than them losing his money. Over the last year from what I saw of GC on TV, he was a weak man. He had a cane and kept falling. He looked horrible on TV after his January fall and his skin color was changing too. These falls were probably due to weakness after dialysis. Remember, he wasn't a diabetic patient who recently started this treatment. He was born with this issue and had two transplants before he was an adult. As obstinate as he appeared I'll bet he wouldn't allow anyone to drive him to the hospital. His wife is only 24 yrs old, Gary had no wealth and she has remained in that volatile marriage for 3 yrs. Who would do that if they didn't care?
If this happened to someone you loved - you wouldn't take a doctor's or hospitals word for it immediately - even THEY would expect you to get a 2nd opinion before you IMMEDIATELY pulled the plug. Gary Coleman's wife must have hated him. That plug was pulled WAY too quickly!!!
Mary, STFU and stop playing amateur detective; you sound like a complete fool. I would never want YOU for a nurse if you talk to/about people that way. As for Gary, maybe he wouldn't have wanted to be kept alive and had stated that to her, or maybe he had a living will; no one knows. I wouldn't want to be kept alive if I were brain-dead, paralyzed, or suffering with a very painful condition. It was for the best; he's now free from a lifetime of misery and health problems.
Wow!!! After hearing the 911 call I am in total shock!!! She did NOTHING to help her husband! She is a total piece of crap and I can't believe the police are not investigating her!
Oh US shut up already! This magazine will start all kinds of crap. She is his wife. She is first in line to make the decisions. Let the man rest in peace and let this family grieve. What the hell is wrong with people.
It was reported earlier that he had just gotten home from driving himself back from dialysis. Why in the world wasn't his wife transporting him? If my husband was in dialysis I'd be driving him to and from and waiting at the clinic with him. She doesn't seem too concerned/bothered by all of this. Poor guy. RIP
Who care how she acted on the call. Atleast she called. And it's not like she just walked in and pulled the plug. Im sure she was advised to.
Can we PLEASE just move on with our life, and stop dragging this out!?
In order to be pulled from life support the doctors will tell you nothing more can be done, it happened to a family member of mine we did not want to pull te plug at all but had to. i am glad garys parents will be at the funeral. Shannon seems decent leave her alone and may gary RIP