ATLANTA _ Two months after finding Nick Gordon "legally responsible" in connection to the 2015 death of Bobbi Kristina Brown, a Fulton County Superior Court judge has awarded more than $36 million in damages following the civil suit filed by Brown's estate against him.
The lawsuit against the man Brown often called her "husband" sought $50 million. She and Gordon were not legally wed, and the investigation into her death is still open.
Brown, the only child of the late Whitney Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown, died at age 22 on July 26, 2015, nearly six months after being discovered unresponsive and face-down in a bathtub. A Fulton County Medical Examiner's autopsy report found her body was scarred and she was missing teeth. Drugs present in her system "included marijuana, alcohol (ethanol), benzoylecgonine (a cocaine-related substance), benzodiazepines (medications used for sedation or to treat anxiety), and morphine," the Fulton County medical examiner's office said in a statement earlier this year. "It could not be determined from toxicology tests whether the morphine resulted from heroin use."
Investigators determined the cause of death was immersion in water and drug intoxication, but the manner of death was unclear. Investigators do not know how Brown wound up in the bathtub on Jan. 31, 2015.
"Death was clearly not due to natural causes, but the medical examiner has not been able to determine whether death was due to intentional or accidental causes, and has therefore classified the manner of death as Undetermined," the statement said.
The monetary ruling emanates from a civil lawsuit filed against Gordon, not criminal proceedings. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard's office took over the investigation initially launched by the Roswell Police Department. Howard issued a statement after the prior ruling saying "this case remains under active investigation by our office. Our investigation will encompass all relevant facts and circumstances, including the body and content of the civil action holding Nick Gordon civilly responsible for the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown."
Gordon didn't appear in Judge T. Jackson Bedford's courtroom during the civil proceedings. His representatives haven't responded to requests for comment, although his legal team has previously blasted the lawsuit, which accused him of physically harming Brown and stealing money and valuables from her, as "slanderous and meritless."
Gordon's Twitter feed is full of photos showing him and Brown in loving poses. His latest post, issued Wednesday, simply said "#outofcontrol."
The civil suit against him was filed by attorney Bedelia Hargrove on behalf of Bobbi Kristina's estate. The estate was represented by R. David Ware of Hall Booth Smith and Glenda Hatchett of the Hatchett Firm. Ware and Hatchett released statements reacting to the latest legal ruling.
"There was an urgent need, in my mind, to get justice for Bobbi Kristina Brown and that's why I took the case," Ware said. "We intend to pursue, with all vigor, the full collection of the judgment. The defendant will not escape justice nor ever profit from his misdeeds. We hope that in some small way this will allow Krissy's family to continue their quest for peace."
Added Hatchett: "Domestic violence is a horrible reality in our society and Bobbi suffered such horrific pain and degradation at the hands of Nick Gordon, the man she loved and trusted. No one should suffer the way she did and the judge sent a strong message in the award of punitive damages that this despicable behavior is inexcusable and will not be tolerated."
