Keith Greer, Plaintiff’s counsel, took the unprecedented step of issuing a public apology to Dina and Nina for their years of suffering caused by this lawsuit.
San Diego, California. (April 20, 2017) – Keith Greer, attorney for the Zahau Family, announced today at a press conference the release of two of the three defendants in a civil wrongful death lawsuit regarding the death of Rebecca Zahau in Coronado on July 13, 2011.
Rebecca was discovered dead two days after Jonah and Dina Shacknai’s six-year-old son Maxie Shacknai was admitted to Rady Children’s hospital based on information that Max suffered an unwitnessed fall at the Spreckels mansion. At the press conference, Dina Shacknai, a Paradise Valley, Arizona resident, confirmed that the information provided to first responders and medical personnel at Sharp and Rady Hospitals was that Max suffered a heart attack which preceded the fall. Doctors were informed that Max received prompt medical intervention at the scene thus they were focused on ruling out a genetic disorder called Long QT syndrome.
Dina Shacknai said, “From what I was told, I was grateful Maxie received immediate CPR from Rebecca, which is why I was so shocked to hear people saying that Rebecca had taken her life given that all reports were that Rebecca had attempted to save his life according to Maxie’s father. I never imagined my son was not going to walk out of the hospital, never play soccer again, never start first grade…until he flat lined on Friday, July 15, 2011. It was at least ten hours after I learned of [Rebecca’s] death that we received Maxie’s MRI results that showed he had suffered critical brain damage.”
Keith Greer, Esq. said, “When we filed the lawsuit we relied on information which has now been refuted. After years of investigation and evidentiary analysis by experts, it has become evident that our initial theory which alleged the involvement of Dina Shacknai and Nina Romano in the tragic death of Rebecca Zahau was wrong.”
“Through multiple sources we have confirmed that Dina Shacknai was at Rady Children’s Hospital in the PICU with her son Maxie throughout the evening of Rebecca’s death and specifically at the time a neighbor heard a woman that we allege was Rebecca screaming for help. The evidence also supports Nina Romano’s statements that she was not in any way involved in Rebecca’s death. Based on this evidence, we previously dismissed Nina Romano from the case and have now dismissed Dina Shacknai.” Nina Romano lives in San Francisco.
“We wish to apologize to Dina, Nina and their families for the stress and trauma this process has had on their lives, particularly in light of the tremendous pain they continue to endure due to the loss of their beloved son, nephew and grandchild Maxie,” said Greer.
“Although Nina and I do not agree with Keith Greer’s litigation theory we do agree that Max and Rebecca’s deaths both need to be investigated further. It is shocking to us that this case was allowed to continue against us for almost four years, in both State and Federal Court. My sister and I have suffered in every possible way personally, professionally and our overall health and well-being, and we still do not have answers,” said Dina Shacknai.
At today’s press conference, the attorney for Nina Romano, Darin Wessel, Esq. said, “In this case, Nina’s insurance carrier made a business decision to end the financial bleeding from the cost of litigation and protect its insured, Nina Romano. Her insurance carrier, on its own, negotiated this release. Nina Romano was always firmly and adamantly against paying any money to Plaintiffs because she had nothing to do with Rebecca’s death.”
This morning Dina highlighted the fact that she and Nina had never deviated from their commitment to not offer a single penny to the Plaintiffs to end this case against them.
As counsel confirmed, the unfortunate reality is that insurance companies do not have to follow their insureds’ wishes, as happened in this case with Nina. A monetary settlement of any amount was absolutely against Nina’s wishes.
Similarly, Keith Greer has publicly confirmed that the Plaintiffs have not been offered ‘millions of dollars’ to settle by anyone.
Nina Romano added, “I pray that now both the Zahau family and my family can begin the process of attempting to heal our hearts from such tragic loss and try to find some level of peace while we begin the process of rebuilding our lives.”
This response is for Case 37-2013-00075418-CU-PO-CTL, filed July 2013 in Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.
