Anne Heche estate sued for at least $2 million by woman who lost home in crash

By Taylor Romine and Elizabeth Joseph, CNN

The woman who was inside the Los Angeles home actress Anne Heche crashed into in early August is suing the actress’ estate for at least $2 million, court documents show.

Lynne Mishele “was working from home when she was stunned by the dramatic force of Heche’s vehicle slamming through the front wall and driving through the living room, kitchen, home office, and primary room closet before settling into the laundry/storage room of her house,” the lawsuit says.

Her home was destroyed in a fire and Mishele now suffers from acute anxiety and depression, the complaint says,

After the accident, Heche experienced a “severe anoxic brain injury,” depriving her brain of oxygen, among other critical injuries following the crash. She died days after being taken off life support.

“While the media focused its reporting on Heche’s condition, the August 5, 2022 incident left Plaintiff completely traumatized, unusually startled by hearing loud noises, plagued by nightmares and flashbacks of the incident, terrified of walking outside, and, atop that, without a place to live,” the complaint says, adding, “As a direct consequence of Heche’s outrageous conduct and unlawful acts, Plaintiff and her beloved pets almost lost their lives, not to mention that Plaintiff also had an entire life’s worth of her personal possessions destroyed in the fire.”

CNN has reached out to Homer Heche Laffoon, the executor of Heche’s estate, for comment.

The lawsuit alleges negligence that led to the crash, infliction of mental distress and trespassing. Mishele asks for compensatory and punitive damages among other financial relief.

The complaint was filed last week in California Superior Court in Los Angeles.

Heche was an award-winning actress who made her TV debut in 1987 on the soap opera “Another World,” a role for which she won a Daytime Emmy. After leaving the show, she began her film career, appearing in acclaimed films including “Donnie Brasco” and “Wag the Dog.”

Heche also appeared in films like the 1998 “Psycho” remake and the rom-com “Six Days Seven Nights” alongside Harrison Ford. She also directed a segment of a 2000 HBO film “If These Walls Could Talk 2” and in her 2001 memoir, she revealed her lifelong struggles with mental illnesses after being abused by her father.

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CNN’s Chloe Melas and Scottie Andrew contributed to this report.