A New Mexico jury awarded Nichelle Nichols’ family $13 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City, finding the hospital negligent in the Star Trek icon’s 2022 death.
Quick Facts
- The jury deliberated for just two hours before reaching its verdict on June 5, 2026.
- Nichols died at age 89 in 2022, hours after being discharged from the hospital instead of transferred for cardiac care.
- She played Lt. Uhura on the original Star Trek series and was the first Black woman in a lead role on television.
- The lawsuit alleged the hospital failed to properly diagnose Nichols’ treatable heart condition.
Nichols sought treatment at Gila Regional Medical Center after experiencing symptoms of a heart condition. According to her family’s attorneys, the hospital did a “terrible job” diagnosing her condition and discharged her instead of transferring her to a facility better equipped to provide cardiac care.
“Nichelle Nichols had a heart attack that was missed. That’s why she died,” said Theresa Hacsi, the estate’s attorney. The lawsuit alleged the hospital “hired, credentialed, and inappropriately supervised unqualified medical providers” and failed to transfer Nichols to Las Cruces, a short drive down Interstate 25, where she could have received a full cardiac workup.
Nichelle Nichols’ family awarded $13 million in wrongful death lawsuit
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Hours after being sent home, Nichols died. The jury found Gila Regional Medical Center negligent and awarded her estate $13 million in damages. However, because the hospital is owned by Grant County government, New Mexico’s tort claims act caps damages at $400,000, meaning the hospital will not pay the full verdict amount.
Nichols’ legacy extends beyond her groundbreaking television role. She was instrumental in NASA’s recruitment efforts and became a civil rights icon. Her family’s attorney noted the significance of the verdict: “What this verdict does is it changes the ending of her story and it can be a catalyst to improve the quality of care at this hospital.”
Sources
- KOAT — reported the jury verdict, hospital allegations, and attorney statements from the Nichols family.
- KRQE — confirmed the $13 million award, two-hour deliberation timeline, and New Mexico tort claims cap details.
- TMZ — confirmed the $13 million wrongful death lawsuit verdict.
