Dad testifies in Vegas golfer wrongful death case

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The father of the late LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg testified that he knows a Las Vegas doctor he’s suing in a civil wrongful death case didn’t kill his daughter.

But Mel Blasberg made it clear Thursday that he blames Dr. Thomas Hess for pursuing a romantic relationship with his troubled 25-year-old daughter before she committed suicide in May 2010.

Mel Blasberg told a Clark County District Court jury he sometimes had a strained relationship with his daughter as her father and coach.

But he declared that he doesn’t think doctors can ever take off their white coat and be friends with a patient.

Blasberg’s parents seek unspecified damages from Hess, who removed a suicide note and some medications after finding Erica Blasberg’s body.

Hess denies the two had a romantic relationship.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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