A trial could be in Jim Carrey’s future after a Los Angeles judge chose not to dismiss a civil lawsuit against the actor stemming from his ex-girlfriend’s death.
Carrey is being sued by Cathriona White’s mother and estranged husband, who accused the 55-year-old “Ace Ventura” actor of supplying the drugs White took before she committed suicide in September 2015.
Judge Deirdre Hill set a trial date for April 26, 2018, according to the ruling she made Wednesday.
The judge also made clear that she will take more time to think about the case — and does not consider the ruling to be her final decision.
A mediation status conference is scheduled for Sept. 21.
Carrey’s lawyer Raymond Boucher has attempted on several occasions to have the wrongful death suit tossed.
“Mr. Carrey loved Ms. White dearly and so obviously it will be a very painful process for him,” Boucher said.
Carrey and his team have vehemently denied all of the accusations made by White’s mother, Brigid Sweetman, and her ex-husband Mark Burton. The couple had filed the lawsuit against the “Dumb and Dumber” star last year.
They’ve alleged that Carrey gave Percocet, Ambien and Propranolol — each of which are prescription drugs — to White, triggering her overdose.
Carrey — allegedly using the name “Arthur King” — obtained the drugs that he ended up giving to White, despite knowing she’d been prone to depression and had once attempted suicide.
White’s death was officially ruled a suicide.
Sweetman is also seeking damages from Carrey in violation of the drug dealer liability act.
Sweetman has also accused Carrey of giving White, 30, three different sexually transmitted diseases during their relationship before pressuring her to cover it up.
Carrey helped carry the coffin at White’s funeral in 2015. Carrey’s lawyers have said in court papers that the actor has been “absolutely devastated” by her death.
In a statement, Carrey said: “What a terrible shame. It would be easy for me to get in a back room with this man’s lawyer and make this go away, but there are some moments in life when you have to stand up and defend your honor against the evil in this world.
He added: “I will not tolerate this heartless attempt to exploit me or the woman I loved. Cat’s troubles were born long before I met her and sadly her tragic end was beyond anyone’s control.”
With News Wire Services
