The family of late 3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts has filed a lawsuit against a south Alabama doctor, saying that he was responsible for the musician's death. According to AL.com, the suit was filed against Dr. Richard Snellgrove, who was Roberts' doctor, and Rite Aid Corporation. It alleges that Snellgrove prescribed Roberts high levels of opioids for a six-year period starting in 2006, causing the musician to become addicted to the drugs. Snellgrove allegedly continued to prescribe the same drugs to Roberts for years, even after Roberts went to rehab for his addiction in 2012.
Rite Aid was named because one of the drugs in Roberts' system at the time of his death was purchased at a Rite Aid pharmacy in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Roberts died of a prescription drug overdose on August 20th, 2016 in a Wisconsin hotel.
- Snellgrove was indicted last November for illegal drug distribution in connection with Roberts's death. Court documents showed that Roberts had been one of Snellgrove's patients since at least 2004.
- The indictment alleged that on five different occasions, Snellgrove prescribed controlled substances in the names of different individuals knowing and intending that the drugs would go to Roberts. These five prescriptions were for methadone, hydrocodone, lorazepam, and fentanyl and were allegedly not for a legitimate medical purpose.
- Snellgrove's attorneys have maintained that the doctor has done nothing wrong.
- A founding member of 3 Doors Down, Matt left the band in 2012 to concentrate on his health after experiencing circulation problems exacerbated by the group's heavy touring schedule. He was replaced by Chet Roberts.
- 3 Doors Down released its sixth studio album, Us And The Night, in March 2016.
Story source: AL.com
FAST FACTS:
- Roberts formed 3 Doors Down in 1996 with singer Brad Arnold and bassist Todd Harrell in Escatawpa, Mississippi. He was a member of the group until 2012 when he left for unspecified health reasons, playing on the band's first five studio albums. He was replaced by Chet Roberts (no relation).
- The group scored mainstream success in 2000 with its debut album, The Better Life. The disc featured the monster Top Three single "Kryptonite," which Roberts co-wrote. He aso co-wrote other hits for the group including "Loser," "When I'm Gone" and "Here Without You."
- Roberts' exit in 2012 and Harrell's dismissal from the group in 2013 after being charged with vehicular manslaughter left Arnold as 3 Doors Down's sole original member.