December 30 2006- Wrongful death suit in U.S. court

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A wrongful death lawsuit claiming that CNN's Nancy Grace pushed the mother of a missing toddler to suicide through aggressive questioning on her show has been moved to federal court.

The lawsuit filed by Melinda Duckett's relatives was moved from state court in Tavares to federal court in Ocala, according to court documents.

Lawyers for Grace and Atlanta-based CNN asked that the case be transferred to federal court, a move allowed when opposing parties in a lawsuit reside or are headquartered in different states. The provision ensures a state court will not be biased in favor of a party from its own state.

The lawsuit stems from a contentious Sept. 7 interview on Grace's CNN Headline News show in which she interrogated Duckett about her whereabouts on the August day that 2-year-old Trenton Duckett was reported missing. The network aired the segment after Melinda Duckett shot herself to death.

Investigators have since named Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in his disappearance. An attorney for Duckett's estate has said that Grace encouraged Duckett to appear on her show by saying the goal was to draw public attention to help find the boy.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages as well as a court order preventing the show on which Duckett appeared from being broadcast again.

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