Gathers’ Son Gets $650,000 of a $1-Million Settlement

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that the son of former Loyola Marymount basketball star Hank Gathers will receive $650,000 of a $1-million settlement from Gathers’ cardiologist, with the remainder going to Gathers’ mother, Lucille.

Judge J. Gary Hastings made the decision in favor of 8-year-old Aaron Crump after a hearing held last week between the plaintiffs in the two wrongful death suits filed against 14 defendants, including Dr. Vernon Hattori, the cardiologist who treated Gathers before Gathers’ death March 4, 1990.

In his decision, Hastings found that the legal claim for support appears to be more significant for Aaron than for Lucille Gathers.

Hattori, the only defendant to settle so far, agreed jointly with the plaintiffs for $1 million, the amount of his insurance policy. It was up to the plaintiffs to decide the allocation.

Bruce Fagel, the attorney for Lucille Gathers, said he and Aaron’s attorneys had agreed before the settlement to a split of 60%-40%, with Aaron receiving the higher percentage. But Martin Krimsky and Kenneth Wolf, attorneys for Aaron, said there was no agreement, and the matter went before Hastings.