Family of man who died after appearing on Jerry Springer Show launch lawsuit

A lawsuit alleges the behaviour of Jerry Springer and others during an episode led to Blake Alvey's suicide.
A lawsuit alleges the behaviour of Jerry Springer and others during an episode led to Blake Alvey's suicide. Photo credit: Reuters

The family of a man who say his participation on the Jerry Springer Show led to his suicide have filed a lawsuit in a US Circuit Court.

Blake Alvey's family say "extreme emotional distress" was caused by those involved in the filming of the particular 2018 episode he appeared on, The Wrap reports.

Their complaint alleges the behaviour of Springer and others during the episode as "outrageous".

"The aforementioned conduct of the defendants was extreme and outrageous and caused the decedent to experience severe and extreme emotional distress in the weeks following the taping and airing," the lawsuit says.

The Wrap says distributors NBCUniversal declined to comment, while Springer's representatives did not respond to request for comment.

In the episode, Alvey is told by Cassie Rutter, who he was due to marry, that she had cheated on him and that their engagement was off.

"On June 3, 2018, as a result of severe mental suffering and anguish, [Alvey] shot himself in the head with a firearm and, as a result, died," the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit aims for a jury trial and for damages to be received.

In a statement to The Wrap, family attorney Brenton Stanley said Alvey was "exploited and humiliated," as the show aimed to do.

"We will fight to hold them accountable."

The show was cancelled last year as a result of low ratings. It had been on air for 27 seasons.

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