Gina Marie Krasley Sued Show Producers For Intentional Emotional Distress Before Death

Gina Marie Krasley, who appeared on the TLC show "My 600-lb Life," died Sunday at her New Jersey home.

Gina Marie Krasley had reportedly filed a lawsuit against the "My 600-Lb Life" producers for allegedly requiring her to consume an "excessive" amount of food to fit their "narrative."

Krasley's death made headlines last week. She passed away at her home in Tuckerton, New Jersey, surrounded by family on Aug. 1. Her cause of death was not revealed. However, E! News has learned that the reality star had been embroiled in a legal battle for over a year before she died.

Krasley sued the producers of her reality show for alleged negligence and intentional affliction of emotional distress, according to the Texas court filing obtained by E! News. She appeared on TLC's reality show on episode five of Season 8 weighing 588 pounds.

Last year, she sued the producers Megalomedia Inc and LLC, as well as parent company DBA Holdings and contracting company Mansfield Films, for over $1 million. All defendants are owned by Jonathan Nowzaradan, the son of the show's doctor, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan (also known as "Dr. Now"), according to the suit.

In her filing, Krasley claimed that Dr. Now put her on an extreme weight-loss diet for the TLC show. However, to support the producers' "narrative" and "to portray her as someone who could not follow a diet," they allegedly required her to consume "excessive amounts of food" on screen.

"I'm ruining any chance I have for a future all because I can’t stop eating," Krasley was quoted by Us Weekly as saying in one episode, before telling the cameras, "If I don’t do anything now, it’s just gonna get worse and I’m going to die."

Dr. Now was reportedly disappointed with her progress. Krasley was also allegedly "not permitted" to proceed under his care.

Krasley had been "taken advantage of by the producers," for putting ratings above her health and "neglecting the welfare of those who appeared on the show," her lawyer said at the time.

The 30-year-old reality star also claimed that the producers were aware that those who go through extreme diets are "much more" prone to suicide and depression. However, they still went "beyond all possible bounds of decency."

The producers responded to Krasley's lawsuit in March last year denying all the allegations against them. According to them, her injuries were her "own negligent conduct." They also stated that she waived the right to prosecute these claims in written agreements. So, they asked the court to deny her relief.

The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the case last April citing 15 affirmative defenses. Meanwhile, Krasley requested a motion to be allowed to depose Toni Westberry, Megalomedia CFO, and Jonathan Nowzaradan, the show's executive producer.

When Krasley was still alive, she also teamed up with her "My 600-Lb Life" co-stars who had filed for five other cases against the same defendants over "similar allegations" about emotional distress. The case appears to be still ongoing, the outlet noted.

The outlet reached out to Krasley's lawyer and Dr. Nowzaradan for comments but did not receive any response.