A notice of nonsuit has been filed in a suit accusing a Beaumont physician of prescribing too many painkillers, causing the patient to die from "combined drug toxicity."

As previously reported, Thomas Letourneau, the father of the late Alexander Letourneau, filed suit against Dr. Steven Sacks on Dec. 17 in Jefferson County District Court. Alexander's minor son was also a plaintiff in the suit.

On April 6 the plaintiffs filed a notice of nonsuit, dismissing their entire cause of action pursuant to rule 162 of the Texas Civil Code, court records show.

According to the lawsuit, from March 2006 and Oct. 6, 2008, Dr. Sacks treated Alexander for "pain and tightness in his back as a residual effect of an automobile accident in 2004."

As part of his treatment, Dr. Sacks prescribed multiple pain medications. On Oct. 6, 2008, Alexander was administered an injection of a powerful narcotic, court papers say.

"As a result of the ... multiple medications, decedent died in his home on Oct. 7, 2008," the suit states. "The autopsy found ... numerous drugs in his blood."

The cause of death was determined to be combined drug toxicity, the suit states.

Attorney Steve Dillawn of the Austin law firm Germer Gertz Beaman & Brown represented the plaintiffs.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, was assigned to the case.

Case No. E188-985