The father of Playboy model Katie May's daughter sues her chiropractor for wrongful death

Katie May, 34, was a Playboy model and social media personality. Photo / Supplied

Playboy model and social media personality Katie May, who died at the age of 34, would be alive today if not for the chiropractor whose "forceful" and "aggressive" adjustments tore an artery in her neck and caused her fatal stroke, a new lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims.

Alex Maimon, the father of May's daughter, 8-year-old Mia May-Maimon, has filed a wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit before Los Angeles County Superior Court, TMZ reported.

May, a successful model who was known as The Queen of Snapchat, died in February 2016. Her death certificate stated that she died from a chiropractor's adjustment that tore her left vertebral artery and essentially decreased blood flow to the brain.

Maimon claims he tried unsuccessfully to settle with chiropractor Eric Swartz's insurance company before launching the legal action, stating that Swartz "negligently" treated May at the Back to Total Health Wellness Centre in West Hollywood, California.

The lawsuit alleges that Swartz's "aggressive neck manipulation" caused deadly "bilateral vertebral artery dissections" that blocked blood flow to May's brain and caused the stroke that killed her.

May had sought treatment after suffering "trauma" during a photoshoot in which "she had to hold an awkward pose for a while," the lawsuit claims.

It alleges that Swartz should have recognised that May needed a CAT scan to accurately diagnose possible spinal issues before treatment.

"A reasonable chiropractor in Dr Swartz's position would not have adjusted May because of the risks involved and would have referred May to the emergency room," the lawsuit alleges.

After her last adjustment with the chiropractor, May complained of dizziness and headaches and weas taken to a hospital with difficulty speaking and left-sided weakness, the lawsuit states.

She lost consciousness and her parents later made agreed with doctors to remove May from life support because doctors had declared her brain dead, the lawsuit says.

"At the time of her death, Katie May was 34 years old with a full life ahead of her," the lawsuit seeking unspecified damages states.

"May devoted her life to her daughter, Mia.

"Mia is deprived of growing up with not only her mother, but her best friend and support system."

Maimon is suing for malpractice, negligence and wrongful death.

Swartz has not responded to the lawsuit at time of publication.