Civil settlement reported concerning Zahau death

A civil case stemming from the death of a woman found hanging from a balcony at a Coronado, California mansion has been dismissed after a settlement in the case, according to multiple reports from San Diego-area media.

An attorney representing the family of Rebecca Zahau confirmed the settlement was reached, according to the reports.

Zahau was the girlfriend of Jonah Shacknai, founder and CEO of Medicis Pharmaceutical, which was headquartered in Scottsdale at the time of her death, which occurred at the oceanfront Coronado home known as the Spreckels Mansion.

Zahau, 32, was found dead on July 13, 2011, two days after Shacknai's 6-yearold son, Max, suffered a fatal fall in the mansion while under Zahau's care.

A lengthy investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office determined Zahau's death was a suicide, despite the intricate way she was found bound and hanging. Her family was convinced she was killed by Shacknai's brother, Adam Shacknai because he was the last one to see the woman. He never was charged with a crime. However, last April, a jury found Adam Shacknai liable in her death and awarded her family $5 million.

That verdict prompted the Sheriff's Office to re-examine the case. In December, it reached the same conclusion -- that there was no evidence to prove she was murdered.

After the April verdict, Adam Shacknai continued the court fight, seeking to have the decision overturned. But on Wednesday, the Zahau family's lawyer told media the case was settled between the family and an insurance company covering Shacknai's legal expenses, according to KUSI News in San Diego and several other reports.

According to the reports, Shacknai told reporters he was not made aware of the settlement.