Jerry Lawler's Lawsuit Dismissed by Court

All claims brought by Jerry Lawler against Hardeman County officials related to his son Brian Christopher's suicide in jail have been dismissed. Brian Lawler, who was arrested for DUI in July 2018, died by hanging in his cell on July 29, 2018. Jerry Lawler's wrongful death suit alleged that authorities failed to provide necessary treatment for his son's substance abuse issues and placed him in solitary confinement after an injury, leading to the suicide. Initially, the district court dismissed claims against Sheriff Doolen and Leonard Brown but allowed claims against Judy Wiggins, Ellen Futrell, and William Gonzalez to proceed. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals later reversed this, granting qualified immunity to the latter group. In September 2024, the U.S. District Court ultimately dismissed all remaining claims against the county as well, concluding the legal proceedings surrounding this case.