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Judge appoints Lisa Bergen personal representative to probe possible wrongful death in Timothy Bergen estate
Summary
The court found that Timothy Bergen died in Lenawee County on Oct. 21, 2024, accepted the intestacy findings, appointed his surviving spouse, Lisa Bergen, as personal representative and granted authority to investigate a potential wrongful-death claim after an autopsy indicated death was not natural.
At a Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court hearing on file 53586, the court determined that Timothy Bergen died on Oct. 21, 2024, as a resident of Lenawee County, declared his heirs and appointed his surviving spouse, Lisa Bergen, as personal representative with authority to investigate and, if appropriate, pursue a potential wrongful-death claim.
Counsel told the court that Mr. Bergen had died in a nursing-home setting and that the autopsy report did not list natural causes, prompting the petition to grant Mrs. Bergen authority to explore possible litigation. The attorney also said many assets were jointly held and that the size of the estate was not yet known.
The court found notice had been provided or waived and that the heirs (identified on the record as sons Jeremy Bergen and Jamie Bergen and surviving spouse Lisa Bergen) were uncontested. The judge signed orders documenting appointment of Mrs. Bergen as personal representative and the letters of authority that allow her to investigate a possible wrongful-death action and administer the estate under applicable law.
The court expressed condolences to the family and placed no additional conditions on the appointment. No supervised administration was ordered; the judge accepted counsel’s representations that the surviving spouse had been forthcoming and would manage estate responsibilities.
