Parties on behalf of the daughter of a famed boxer that died have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey, but attorneys fighting the case say the suit should be filed elsewhere. The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of the boxer's daughter, targets the boxer's widow. The prosecuting side is arguing that the widow had a hand in the boxer's death, which occurred in 2009 in Brazil.

Brazilian authorities looked into the boxer's death, and even questioned his wife in the matter. They came to the conclusion that the woman did not play a part in his death, and the boxer died from an apparent suicide by hanging. Medical examiners in Canada could not find evidence of foul play but also said that investigators in Brazil mishandled evidence at the scene.

Unhappy with that conclusion, the family of the deceased boxer hired a team of private investigators to explore further into his death. They determined that the boxer was actually murdered, likely by his wife.

His daughter, who lives in New Jersey, filed the suit, but opposing attorneys said the suit should be filed in Brazil, where the death took place. The boxer's wife lives in Brazil, and anyone who might have witnessed events key to the death would be located in Brazil. They argue that the daughter filed the suit in New Jersey because the boxer was well known and liked in that state, which could benefit her in court.

The boxer's widow also took on his family with litigation through a Canadian court. She won the rights to the deceased athlete's $3.4 million estate. The family argued that the boxer was tricked into signing a will that transferred his whole estate to his wife.

The judge has not decided whether or not to throw out the wrongful death case.

Source: The Washington Post, "Attorney: Wrongful death suit by daughter of late boxer Gatti belongs in Brazil, not NJ," Jan. 20, 2012