ARIZONA NEWS

Ex-wife, brother of Valley CEO sued in death of girlfriend

Jul 17, 2013, 3:00 PM | Updated: 3:00 pm

PHOENIX – Jonah Shacknai’s brother and ex-wife are being sued by the family of Shacknai’s girlfriend, claiming she did not commit suicide.

The Phoenix Business Journal reports that Rebecca Zahau’s family filed a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit last week, claiming she did not commit suicide but instead was murdered.

Named in the suit were Dina Shacknai, Adam Shacknai and Dina’s twin sister, Nina Romano. Jonah Shacknai, who was not named in the suit, was the founder of Medicis Pharmaceutical in the Valley. It was sold to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International in 2012 for $2.6 billion

Last year, Shacknai’s girlfriend was found hanging nude from a balcony at his mansion in Coronado, Calif., just two days after his son fell near a staircase, which resulted in his death.

Several charities were created in memory of Max Shacknai.

MaxInMotion was created by Max’s father, while Maxie’s H.O.U.S.E. was the creation of Dina Shacknai, the mother of the boy and ex-wife of Shacknai.

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Ex-wife, brother of Valley CEO sued in death of girlfriend