Judge temporarily blocks release of Bob Saget's autopsy records after family's request

A judge in Florida on Wednesday agreed with a request from Bob Saget's family to temporarily block the release of photos, video or other records related to the "Full House" actor's death investigation.

Circuit Judge Vincent Chiu issued the temporary injunction, saying that Saget's family would suffer “severe mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress" if the request wasn't granted. He said the injunction was in the public's interest as he decides whether the family's privacy concerns outweigh any claims for the records to be released.

Saget’s wife, Kelly Rizzo, and three daughters – Aubrey, Lara and Jennifer Saget – filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Orange County Sheriff John W. Mina and the District Nine Medical Examiner's Office requesting the block. Both conducted investigations into Saget's cause and manner of death.

The lawsuit cites that Rizzo and Saget's daughters "would suffer irreparable harm" if further details about the 65-year-old comedian's death "be released or disseminated to the public."

During investigations into Saget's death, according to the lawsuit, a number of materials including photographs, video recordings and audio recordings were created, some of which "graphically depict Mr. Saget, his likeness or features or parts of him."

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the lawsuit in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday: "While we are sensitive to the family’s concerns about the right to privacy, that must be balanced with our commitment to transparency, compliance with the law, and the public’s right to know."

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USA TODAY has also reached out to the District Nine Medical Examiner's Office for further comment.

The lawsuit also cites Saget's family's "privacy rights" as justification for the injunction.

The lawsuit states that releasing any further details about Saget's death "would cause immediate and widespread dissemination of the Records to the internet, as well as print and television media outlets," contributing to the "harm" inflicted on Rizzo and Saget's daughters.

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Saget was found unresponsive in the bed of his room at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando on Jan. 9 with no sign of trauma or foul play, according to the sheriff's office at the time. A hotel security officer had entered the room after Saget failed to check out and called 911 when he found him unresponsive. Deputies and paramedics came to the scene, and he was pronounced dead.

A statement from Saget's family released Feb. 9 shared the conclusion from the medical examiner's office, which stated Saget’s death was the result of "blunt head trauma," most likely linked to "an unwitnessed fall." The Orange County chief medical examiner corroborated the statement the next day.

"The authorities have determined that Bob passed from head trauma. They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep," the statement sent to USA TODAY by Saget's longtime publicist Michael O'Brien said.

"No drugs or alcohol were involved," the statement added.

On Jan. 10, the Orange County chief medical examiner in charge of investigating the death said an autopsy indicated no evidence of drug use or foul play.

Trauma surgeon Kari Jerge told USA TODAY that a blow to the head can push the brain "up against the skull," resulting in a concussion, a type of brain injury. Jerge says concussion can lead to two possibly fatal scenarios: "bleeding and bruising" of the brain or asphyxiation during unconsciousness.

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Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY; Mike Schneider, The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bob Saget family lawsuit: Judge agrees to block release death records