Ellen Greenberg's Parents to Take City Officials to Trial in Emotional Distress Case

Ellen Greenberg's Parents to Take City Officials to Trial in Emotional Distress Case

The parents of Ellen Greenberg, a teacher found dead in 2011, have won a major victory in their legal battle against the city of Philadelphia. A judge has ruled that Dr. Joshua Greenberg and his wife, Sandra "Sandee" Greenberg, can take their case against several city officials to trial for emotional distress.

The Greenbergs believe the investigation into their daughter's death was mishandled and that her death was wrongly classified as a suicide. Ellen was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with multiple stab wounds in January 2011. The initial ruling of homicide was later changed to suicide, a decision the Greenbergs have fiercely contested.

After years of seeking justice, the Greenbergs filed a lawsuit against the city in December 2024. The lawsuit accuses the city of falsely labeling Ellen's death a suicide to cover up a botched homicide investigation. The judge's ruling allows the Greenbergs to proceed with their case against officials from the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office.

"I'm hoping we're going to prove that Ellen did not commit suicide," Ellen's father told NBC10. "That's what this is all about. Justice for Ellen."

The Greenbergs' fight for justice continues. They are also asking the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court to allow them to have their daughter's death certificate amended from suicide to undetermined. This case is yet to be heard.

The trial against the city officials is set to begin on February 3rd.