A multi-million dollar lawsuit being taken by the family of a Limerick woman who died after undergoing cosmetic surgery in New York is on its way to the Supreme Court.

A pre-trial hearing on June 27 is expected to set the date.

Kay Cregan, 42, died on St. Patrick's Day in 2005 after undergoing facelift surgery on March 14 at the offices of Dr. Michael Sachs.

Cregan, from Croom in County Limerick, had booked the $32,000 procedure as a surprise for her husband after seeing Sachs' work showcased in Ireland's Sunday Independent.

Her husband Liam - who had believed his wife was visting friends in Dublin - rushed to St Luke's Hospital in Manahattan from Ireland and was by her side when life support was switched off on March 17.

Ms Cregan had been transferred to St Lukes on March 14 after she collapsed in a recovery room of the Manhattan clinic.

Sachs, who was been dubbed "Dr Botch" in the New York media has been involved in more than 30 malpractice cases since 1995.

Cregan's sister Agnes Kelly said she didn't believe her sister knew about Dr Sachs' reputation.

The case has sparked intense media interest as there is no cap on damages in New York.