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48 Neil Armstrong’s $6 Million Settlement

Neil Armstrong’s Death,

and a Stormy, Secret $6

Million Settlement

By Scott Shane and Sarah Kliff

When Neil Armstrong died in a Cincinnati
hospital two weeks after undergoing heart
surgery in 2012, his family released a touching
tribute addressing the astronaut’s millions of
admirers around the globe.
“Honor his example of service,
accomplishment and modesty,” they wrote,
telling fans of the first man to walk on the moon
that “the next time you walk outside on a clear
night and see the moon smiling down at you,
think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”
But in private, the family’s reaction to
his death at 82 was far stormier. His two sons
contended that incompetent post-surgical care at
Mercy Health — Fairfield Hospital had cost Mr. The legal settlement adds a grim to Mark and Rick if they benefited from a film
Armstrong his life, and even one expert retained footnote to the inspiring story of Mr. Armstrong, or book project.
by the hospital would find serious problems with who avoided the limelight and never cashed in “Obviously, the information about this
his treatment. on his fame. It also illustrates the controversial wrongful death claim would prove extremely
The hospital defended the care, but paid but common practice of confidential settlements useful to such projects, and the boys’
the family $6 million to settle the matter in medical malpractice and other liability cases, involvement would net a monetary gain far in
privately and avoid devastating publicity, which protect reputations but hinder public excess of the demand that has been made for
documents show. The hospital insisted on accountability. And it shows how the settlement,” she wrote. Wendy Armstrong’s
keeping the complaints and the settlement extraordinary renown of a figure like Mr. original demand on behalf of the family was $7
secret. Armstrong can become a powerful hammer in million.
Mr. Armstrong had undergone bypass negotiations. Records from the Hamilton County
surgery in early August 2012, and his wife told A lawyer acting as a representative of probate court show that the bulk of the
The Associated Press afterward that he was Mr. Armstrong’s grandchildren in the secret settlement, nearly $5.2 million, was split equally
“amazingly resilient” and was walking in the proceedings, Bertha G. Helmick, vividly between Mr. Armstrong’s sons, Mark and Rick.
corridor. But when nurses removed the wires for characterized the stakes for the hospital in a The astronaut’s brother and sister, Dean A.
a temporary pacemaker, he began to bleed into filing in probate court in Hamilton County, Armstrong and June L. Hoffman, each received
the membrane surrounding the heart, leading to Ohio, where Mr. Armstrong lived. $250,000, and six grandchildren each got
a cascade of problems that resulted in his death “Any linkage of this health provider to $24,000.
on Aug. 25. the death of Decedent could irreparably and His widow, Carol, who was Mr.
In a scorching July 2014 email to the unfairly forever taint the business enterprise,” Armstrong’s second wife, did not participate in
hospital’s lawyers, Wendy R. Armstrong, a she wrote. “But for Decedent’s iconic stature in the settlement. “I wasn’t part of it,” she said in
lawyer and the wife of Mr. Armstrong’s son the history of mankind, it is unlikely that a an interview. “I want that for the record.”
Mark, noted that Mark and his brother, Rick, wrongful death settlement in this amount, with When a reporter noted that she had
would soon be traveling to Florida to speak at a disputed causation, would have been reached. signed off on the settlement in her role as
ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of the No institution wants to be remotely associated executor of the estate, she replied, “I had no
first moon landing. with the death of one of America’s greatest choice — it was either that or lose my job as
“This event at Kennedy Space Center heroes.” executor.” Asked if that meant she had not
will receive national news coverage,” Wendy Ms. Helmick noted that the settlement approved of the claim against the hospital, she
Armstrong wrote. “Rick and Mark have been could be undone, and her young clients would said, “I don’t think I can answer that,” saying
solicited by several book writers and filmmakers lose their share of the money, if the agreement’s she was subject to a confidentiality agreement.
for ‘information about Neil that no one already terms ever came to light. “If the existence of the Mark and Rick Armstrong, who served
knows.’” The lawyer suggested that unless the wrongful death action and settlement are ever as consultants for the 2018 film “First Man,”
parties reached a quick settlement, the hospital revealed by the parties to the agreement, the which starred Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong,
would be publicly criticized for giving lethally entire payment must be repaid in full,” she did not respond to multiple requests for
flawed care to one of America’s most famous wrote. (The Times does not have the full comment. Wendy Armstrong, who acted as the
and revered public figures. settlement agreement.) family’s lawyer in the settlement, likewise did
The medical dispute and secret As they scrambled in 2014 to consult not respond.
settlement, never before reported, comes to light medical experts about the family’s claim, In a statement, Nanette Bentley, a
days after the 50th anniversary of Mr. hospital officials fearful of fueling rumors about spokeswoman for the hospital group, told The
Armstrong’s moon walk drew a flood of the astronaut’s death used “Ned Anderson” as a Cincinnati Enquirer late Tuesday that the
nostalgic coverage celebrating his feat. The New pseudonym for Mr. Armstrong. “public nature of these details is very
York Times received by mail from an unknown On July 8, 2014, a hospital lawyer, disappointing — both for our ministry and the
sender 93 pages of documents related to the Nancy A. Lawson, wrote to Wendy Armstrong patient’s family who had wished to keep this
astronaut’s treatment and the legal case, with a blunt question: “Do Mark and Rick intend legal matter private.”
including dueling reports by medical experts for to discuss the wrongful death claim at the Karen Armstrong, Rick Armstrong’s
the two sides. Some of the documents, though Kennedy Space Center if no settlement is former wife, said, “We are all under
marked “filed under seal,” are publicly available reached by Friday, July 18?” The 45th nondisclosure agreements through the courts —
at the probate court’s website, confirming that anniversary gathering was to take place on everyone associated with the family is — so no
the documents received by The Times are Monday, July 21. one is allowed to say anything.”
authentic. An unsigned note included in the In response, Ms. Armstrong said that
envelope said the sender hoped the information information about Mr. Armstrong’s hospital (Continued on Page 49)
would save other lives. treatment and death might prove very lucrative