Melissa Rivers hires legal team to investigate Joan Rivers' death

Melissa Rivers has hired a legal team to investigate the death of her mother, comedian Joan Rivers.

She has hired the New York firm Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf, Bloom & Rubinowitz to look into the circumstances surrounding her mother's Sept. 4 death.

"In order to fully determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Joan Rivers, we confirm that our firm has been engaged by Melissa Rivers and her family," Ben Rubinowitz, a partner at the firm, said in a statement.

Joan Rivers, who died at age 81, was undergoing an outpatient throat procedure when she went into cardiac arrest. Dr. Lawrence Cohen, the medical director where Rivers underwent her procedure, is no longer working at Yorkville Endoscopy.

Reuters reports that the investigation could result in Melissa Rivers filing a civil lawsuit against the clinic where her mother was treated.

Following her mother's death, Melissa Rivers said, "My mother would have been overwhelmed by the scope and depth of the love that people have expressed for her. It is certainly helping to lift our spirits during this time. We are forever grateful for your kindness and support in continuing to honor my mother's legacy, and for remembering the joy and laughter that she brought to so many."

Rivers was remembered at a star-studded funeral in Manhattan attended by family and many celebrity friends, including Hugh Jackman, Sarah Jessica Parker and Whoopi Goldberg.