Attorney Ben Crump and the families of three deceased individuals who were reported as missing persons but placed in a pauper's grave when the police discovered their bodies. The press conference is streamed below.
Mr. Crump said two more families have contacted that said their loved ones were treated in a similar manner.
One mother, understandably upset, said she had to buy "the rights" to her loved one's body from the state. She cried out "they threw away my son" as she broke down.
Gretchen Hankins spoke up as well. Her son, Jonathan, left her house and never returned. She reported him missing but law enforcement did not notify her of her son's demise. A reporter contacted her over a year later. She blamed both Hinds County and Rankin County for "not doing their job" as he was already dead when she reported his disappearance. She said the state wanted to charger her $250 for a death certificate.
Betterston Wade stood up next as she told a similar story. "I know how it feel to have your son thrown away" and said "JPD did it!," she said. Thundering her grief, she said "How many more mistakes do we have to have from JPD?"
Crump promised "to get justice for your loved ones."
19 comments:
Literally wtf is going on in Mississippi.
Justice at 40% contingency.
Hey, 12/20/23 at 1:58 p.m.
It goes to 50% if Crump has to seat a jury.
I may not agree with Crump on political issues, but someone needs to hold them accountable. How can you have the info on who the person is and still not notify the family.
@1:39pm - You serious? lol
We’re last in almost every good measure for a reason.
Does everyone just believe everything said now days? Especially from a lawyer? Must I remind everyone that the job of the lawyer is to be a masterful storyteller.
Hinds County continues to meet my expectations, with Rankin County a close second in this race to the bottom.
A better choice would have been Morgan & Morgan.
I can't see this lawsuit being successful. Where's the harm...well, other than being broke. I doubt Crump can turn up a state law requiring a certain degree of effort at notification of next of kin.
Nope. Starts at 30 and goes to 40. At least that was my personal experience with Morgan et al.
Maybe he can have the Clown partner with him…
I am a solid supporter of protecting individuals' civil rights from being violated. I applaud each and every case that holds the police and government generally accountable for not giving proper regard to the due process rights of individuals who interact with law enforcement and other governmental officials -- while they are alive. The problem I have with this hand wringing and litigation about "violating the rights" of these deceased individuals, is that from what has been reported the first encounter police had with them was after they were deceased. I don't think Mr. Crump or any other lawyer will be able to cite any state or federal civil rights law which holds the government accountable for mishandling a corpse, even as deplorable as the conduct here is regarding the failure to contact next-of-kin.
If anyone truly cared about them they wouldn't have ended up in pauper's graves.
The city will settle with a large payout using my money. Why would you think any different. Crump et al will pay the required tribute to his honor the mayor and all will be blamed on the usual culprit, some white clerk who was too busy on their phone to do his or her job.
Tough draw for Crump. He’s nothing but a race baiter, he can’t pull that card when most or all of the defendants are most assuredly black
Don’t die in Hinds County Mississippi without your address and next of kin information tattooed on your forehead or I hate to say, in your pocket!
Do anyone in the City of Jackson or Hinds County have any common sense to put those pictures of the deceased or information of the deceased in the media!
Is it that freaking hard or just plain lazy. “ Not My Job”!
4:54 is probably right, but it's a fine line, grey area. Arnold v. Spears, 217 Miss. 209, 63 So. 2d 850 (Miss. 1953)- family has right to possession of body for burial, and maybe damages available for interfering with that right under state law (you're welcome Ben). But there is no federal constitutional protected property interest in the remains/corpse of a family member or loved one. [A coroner's experimenting on infants who died from SIDS by holding up by feet, and dropping on floor to determine extent of skull damage did not violate federally protected constitutional property interest right of next of kin - Arnaud v. Odom, 870 F.2d 304 (5th Cir. 1986)] Left with state law only, good luck. Unless you can prove "reckless disregard", (which is tough to prove) Mississippi State Tort Claims Act completely immunizes the law enforcement officer from state law claims for civil monetary damages, and provides immunity to the political subdivisions (cities, counties, police departments, sheriff departments, city police departments, etc.) for law enforcement activities. That's broad immunity. You want cities, counties, police departments, sheriff's departments, to do better? Repeal the Tort Claims Act, take the immunity away, and create financial responsibility for misdeeds. Does the taxpayer end up paying? Yes, through taxes that buy insurance to pay for injuries. But taxpayers also vote. And that's when you get change. Works the exact same way in every private corporation in the United States, where shareholders are financially interested in the operation of the business. No business would survive a year being run like the city of Jackson or Hinds County. No accountability, no change. That's what our elected officials passed as law in the early 90's through enactment of the Miss Tort Claims Act. We democratically and legislatively CHOSE broad civil immunity for our cities, counties, elected officials, and employees of the state and political subdivisions. That's not "working well" in political subdivisions that are poorly run or managed. If you don't have to pay for what you break, you tend to break a lot.
10:36 thanks for your expertise which would be easier to digest in paragraphs rather than one long gulp.
I understand being upset- but is Ben entitled to $millions for this?
Crump = Jesse Jackson v2.0
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