Claims brought forth by Jerry Lawler regarding son’s jail death are dismissed

In July 2018, a Hardeman County deputy arrested Brian Lawler, the son of Jerry Lawler, for DUI. While in jail, Lawler committed suicide. His father sued Hardeman County, Tennessee, Sheriff Doolen, Leonard Brown, Judy Wiggins, Ellen Futrell, and William Gonzalez. 

In September 2022, the district court dismissed the claims against Doolen and Brown, but denied the motion for summary judgment as to the County, Wiggins, Futrell, and Gonzalez. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed as to Wiggins, Futrell, and Gonzalez holding that qualified immunity protected the three from being sued. 

Last month, in light of the Sixth Circuit’s ruling, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson reconsidered his ruling related to Lawler’s remaining claims against the County and granted the County’s motion for summary judgment. As a result, all claims brought by Jerry Lawler related to his son’s death in the Hardeman County Jail have now been dismissed by the Court.

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