'Tiger King' update: Don Lewis' daughters file suit against Carole Baskin; $100K reward offered
08/11/2020 4:22 pm PDT
By Christopher Spata, Tampa Bay Times
TAMPA, Fla. (Tampa Bay Times) -- The surviving daughters of Don Lewis, a Tampa man who went missing 23 years ago this month, have filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County court against "Tiger King" subjects Kenny Farr and Carole Baskin, along with a woman listed as a witness on Lewis' will. But it's not a lawsuit for money.
Jacksonville-based lawyer John M. Phillips, who specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases and is representing Lewis' family in the action, filed a “pure bill of discovery,” which demands the defendants turn over information they might have about the Lewis case for possible use in later lawsuits.
Phillips said it could mean depositions and subpoenas to determine who exactly the family will sue in the future.
Phillips said Baskin is “invited to the table” to come forward with information on Lewis willingly. If not, Phillips said, “I'm a lawyer. I sue people. We'll go that route too. Make no mistake, if the family's offer for civility is rejected, if the insults continue, the next step is to bring justice, because justice is love.”
Baskin was married to Lewis when he disappeared. Lewis was never found after Baskin reported him missing on Aug. 17, 1997, a day before a scheduled trip to Costa Rica. He was declared legally dead in 2002. Lewis' daughters have expressed suspicion that Baskin was somehow involved in his disappearance. Baskin has fervently denied it.
Jack “Ripper” Smith, an amateur investigator who has served as a spokesperson for Lewis' daughters, called on someone to come forward with information that solves the mystery to claim a $100,000 reward.
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