Jim Carrey Claims Extortion By Family of Ex-Girlfriend Who Died

Jim Carrey has denounced an effort to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against him, calling it an act of extortion. The wrongful death complaint was filed by the family of his ex-girlfriend, Cathriona White, who died of a drug overdose in 2015. White had a history of depression, and her death was considered a suicide.

White's estranged husband, Mark Burton, filed the lawsuit against the "Bruce Almighty" actor. White's mother Brigid Sweetman joined Burton in the lawsuit. According to the A.V. Club, their complaint cites California's Drug Dealer Liability Act, which allows a civil court suit to be filed against any drug dealer in a community where someone has sustained an injury due to illegal drug consumption. It's a curious complaint as it would appear necessary to prove that Carrey is a drug dealer.

The lawsuit alleges that Carrey obtained the oxycodone, propranolol and Ambien that were involved in White's overdose. According to the filed complaint, Carrey used the alias "Arthur King" to procure the drugs in an illicit manner.

The actor's lawyer, Raymond Boucher, filed a countersuit against Burton, Sweetman and their lawyer Filippo Marchino of the X-Law Group. The cross-complaint accuses them of suing Carrey as a means of extorting large sums of money from him.

Variety reports that Carrey named Marchino as the alleged perpetrator of an earlier extortion scheme against him. Carrey recalled the incident as taking place in 2013. He said that with the participation and assistance of Marchino, White demanded that Carrey pay her millions of dollars, or else she would make false claims in the media that she had contracted STDs from him. "At the time I felt Cat was being exploited by Marchino," said Carrey.

Carrey explained that he chose to settle the matter privately to avoid a public courtroom battle. He now regrets settling it, and insists that this time he will not give in to the alleged coercion.