Former football star and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez died earlier this year when he hung himself in his Massachusetts high security prison cell. Having been convicted of one murder and very recently acquitted of two others, the three grieving families have all filed wrongful death lawsuits against the estate of Aaron Hernandez.

One year before the murder Hernandez was convicted of, he signed a 5-year $40 Million deal with the New England Patriots and was reported to be worth somewhere around $8 Million. Whether it was huge legal bills, mis-spending or a combination of both, USA Today reports that Hernandez has nothing left in his bank accounts. USA Today reports on the recent affidavit filed by Hernandez’s fiance, “Hernandez’s estate is current worth $0.00 dollars with no monies available and no identifiable personal assets.” Currently, Hernandez’s $1 Million+ house is for sale with proceeds from the sale intended to cover suits like the wrongful death ones his estate is now facing. Of course first there needs to be a judgment in favor of the families of the deceased.

So how does that work when a wrongful death suit is filed against a deceased. While this high-profile case is unique in many of the details, this specific type of wrongful death filing is more common than you think. Take for example, a car accident in which everyone dies– the families of the victims can file a suit against the driver responsible for the death or deaths and collect from either the insurance company (very common) and/or the estate.

Wrongful death cases are complicated, emotional and complex and the suits filed against Aaron Hernandez are certainly no exception. In these cases, all three men were young and had families that relied on them for their financial and emotional contributions and that is what these suits are trying to help to replace. No amount of money can bring someone back but it can help to ease the financial stress of the loss and for many, provide a sense of justice. If you are dealing with a wrongful death of a loved one and wondering about your legal options, do not hesitate to give us a call today to discuss things further. We are available 24/7 for you.