Wrongful Death

Centers on the wrongful deaths of three Whitmore family members, whose remains surface two decades after a suspicious fire and demolition

1. Blount v. Gadsden Police Department et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 9, 2026)
3. VictimsDeMarcus BlountDefendantsGadsden Police DepartmentOfficer Jared RichardsonOfficer Michael TurnerPlaintiffsDeMarcus BlountInvestigatorsAlabama State Bureau of InvestigationProsecutorsEtowah County District Attorney&aposs OfficeDefense AttorneysJames W. Porter IIPlaintiff AttorneysBenjamin CrumpJudgesJudge William H. Rhea IIIInstitutionsGadsden Police DepartmentEtowah County District CourtU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
4. Case Tags: Police Brutality;Wrongful Death;Section 1983;Qualified Immunity

1. Gangley v. Immanuel Home Care Inc.

2. Jurisdiction: United States (U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota) (May 7, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Martha Gangley (Plaintiff, daughter of deceased); Immanuel Home Care Inc. (Defendant, Minnesota-based home care provider); Robert Gangley (Decedent, 82-year-old man)
4. Case Tags: Elder Neglect;Home Care Liability;Wrongful Death;Corporate Negligence

1. Chandler v. Tuscaloosa County, Alabama et al.

2. Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (January 8, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Janine Chandler, as personal representative of the Estate of Marcus Chandler; Defendants: Tuscaloosa County, Alabama; Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Jason Miller; Deputy Sarah Collins; in their individual and official capacities
4. Case Tags: Civil Rights Violation;Excessive Force;Wrongful Death;Fourth Amendment

1. Bates v. Sequel Youth and Family Services LLC et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (January 12, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiffs: John Bates and Lisa Bates, co-administrators of the Estate of Caleb Bates; Defendants: Sequel Youth and Family Services LLC, Sequel Youth Services of Alabama LLC, and three unnamed employees
4. Case Tags: Wrongful Death;Institutional Abuse;Residential Treatment Negligence;Civil Rights Deprivation

1. Zellars-Jemison v. Craig et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Northern District of Georgia) (January 13, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of Trayvon Zellars-Jemison, by personal representative Monique Zellars-Jemison; Defendants: Officer Michael Craig, Officer Daniel Harris, City of Brookhaven Police Department
4. Case Tags: Police Brutality;Civil Rights Violation;Wrongful Death;Qualified Immunity

1. Scheidies v. Mount Royal Operations LLC

2. Jurisdiction: United States (January 14, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of Kyle Scheidies, deceased; Defendant: Mount Royal Operations LLC
4. Case Tags: Wrongful Death;Premises Liability;Mining Accident;Punitive Damages

1. Smith et al v. Hannigan Fairing Co LTD et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 2, 2026)
3. Key Figures: John Smith, Mary Smith, et al. (Plaintiffs) v. Hannigan Fairing Co LTD, Cycle Gear Inc., et al. (Defendants)
4. Case Tags: Product Liability;Motorcycle Accident;Defective Design;Wrongful Death

1. McKenzie v. Cleveland et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio) (February 9, 2026)
3. Original Case: McKenzie v. City of Cleveland, et al.
4. Key Figures: Tamika McKenzie, as administratrix of the estate of Jamal McKenzie; City of Cleveland; Officer Michael Reynolds; Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond
5. Case Tags: Police Brutality;Wrongful Death;Excessive Force;Section 1983 Litigation

1. Thornton v. Baker et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Southern District of New York) (February 9, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Michael Thornton; Defendants: Dr. Lisa Baker, Northwell Health System, MedStar AI Solutions Inc.
4. Case Tags: Medical Malpractice;Artificial Intelligence Liability;Product Liability;Wrongful Death

1. McKenzie v. Broton

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Florida) (February 11, 2026)
3. Original Case: McKenzie v. Broton et al.
4. Key Figures: Jordan McKenzie (Plaintiff, father of deceased); Alex Broton, Chris Daniels, Taylor Reed (Defendants)
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Self-Defense Claim;Wrongful Death;Stand Your Ground Law

1. Batts et al v. Colbert County Sheriff's Department et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 23, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiffs: Batts family and other individuals; Defendants: Colbert County Sheriff's Department, specific deputies, and Colbert County officials
4. Case Tags: Civil Rights Violation;Police Misconduct;Wrongful Death;Section 1983 Litigation

1. Burnett v. Redtail Transport Inc

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Texas) (February 24, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Sarah Burnett (surviving spouse of Jason Burnett); Defendant: Redtail Transport Inc. (autonomous freight carrier); Related criminal defendant: Redtail Transport Safety Director Mark Hollister
4. Case Tags: Criminally Negligent Homicide;Autonomous Vehicle Liability;Wrongful Death;Corporate Criminal Liability

1. Stith v. Sutherland et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (California, Los Angeles County Superior Court) (February 25, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Emily Stith (widow of David Stith); Defendants: Mark Sutherland, Thomas Reed, and Lisa Howard
4. Case Tags: Murder;Wrongful Death;Civil Liability;Punitive Damages

1. Watkins v. Morgan et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 24, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Marcus Watkins (Plaintiff); David Morgan, City of Brookfield Police Department (Defendants)
4. Case Tags: Excessive Force;Qualified Immunity;Wrongful Death;Civil Rights Violation

1. Oltmer v. Colbert County Alabama et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 25, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of Michael Oltmer, by and through personal representative; Defendants: Colbert County, Alabama, Sheriff Eric Balentine, Jail Administrator, and unnamed correctional officers.
4. Case Tags: Civil Rights Violation;Wrongful Death;Deliberate Indifference;Jail Conditions

1. Tennison v. City of Decatur, Alabama et al.

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 26, 2026)
3. Original Case: Tennison v. City of Decatur Alabama et al
4. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Marcus Tennison (Estate); Defendants: City of Decatur, Alabama, Officer Daniel Hartwick, Officer Miguel Suárez
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Death;Police Brutality;Excessive Force;Civil Rights Violation

1. Fasold v. Blount County Jail

2. Jurisdiction: United States (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee) (February 27, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of John Fasold; Defendants: Blount County Jail, Blount County Sheriff's Office, and individual correctional officers
4. Case Tags: Prisoner Civil Rights;Deliberate Indifference;Eighth Amendment Violation;Wrongful Death

1. Bishop v. City of Leeds

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 3, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Mary Bishop, as Administratrix of the Estate of John Bishop; Defendant: City of Leeds, Alabama, and Officer Daniel Roberts
4. Case Tags: Police Brutality;Excessive Force;Civil Rights Violation;Wrongful Death

1. Otero-Acevedo v. Morris-Shea Bridge Company, Inc.

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 10, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of Juan Otero-Acevedo; Defendant: Morris-Shea Bridge Company, Inc.
4. Case Tags: Wrongful Death;Construction Accident;Premises Liability;Workers' Compensation Exclusivity

1. Foy v. Pettway et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 11, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Estate of John Foy Jr., by administrator Mary Foy; Defendants: Officer James Pettway, City of Montgomery, Alabama, and other unnamed officers
4. Case Tags: Excessive Force;Civil Rights Violation;Wrongful Death;Qualified Immunity