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Coryell Jail Lawsuit PDF
Coryell Jail Lawsuit PDF
Defendants.
Coryell County custom, policy, and/or practice, and two Coryell County jailers,
caused Kelli Page's death in a jail cell. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Table of Contents
I. Introductory Allegations 4
A. Parties....... 4
B. Jurisdiction 6
C. Venue 6
A Introduction............... 7
The Plaintiffs file this complaint and for cause of action will show the following.
I. Introductorv Allegations
A. Parties
1. Plaintiff John Fairchild ("Mr. Fairchild") is a natural person who resides and did
reside and was domiciled in Texas at all relevant times. Mr. Fairchild was Kelli Leanne Page's
biological father, and he was Kelli's legal father at the time of Kelli's death. Mr. Fairchild brings
claims in this lawsuit individually and as the Independent Administrator of the Estate of Kelli
Leanne Page. Mr. Fairchild asserts any and all claims available in his capacity as the Independent
Administrator regarding Kelli's death, including all claims on behalf of the Estate and all of Kelli's
heirs-at-law including but not necessarily limited to Kelli's children - Cesar Tamala Lactod, III,
Angre Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany May Gruwell. Letters
Cause Number 18-10032, in the County Court at Law of Coryell County, Texas, in a case styled
2. Plaintiff Susie Fairchild ("Ms. Fairchild") is a natural person who resides and did
reside and was domiciled in Texas at all relevant times. Ms. Fairchild was Kelli Leanne Page's
biological mother, and she was Kelli's legal mother at the time of Kelli's death. Ms. Fairchild
brings claims in this lawsuit individually and as the Independent Administrator of the Estate of
Kelli Leanne Page. Ms. Fairchild asserts any and all claims available in her capacity as the
Independent Administrator regarding Kelli's death, including all claims on behalf of the Estate
and all of Kelli's heirs-atlaw including but not necessarily limited to Kelli's children - Cesar
Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
May Gruwell. Letters of independent administration were issued to Ms. Fairchild on or about
November 19, 2018, in Cause Number I 8- I 0032, in the County Court at Law of Coryell County,
County may be served with process pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure a{$Q) by serving
its chief executive officer, Honorable County Judge Roger A. Miller, at Coryell County Main
Street Annex, 800 East Main Street, Suite A, Gatesville, Texas 76528, or wherever Honorable
Judge Miller may be found. Service on such person is also consistent with the manner prescribed
by Texas law for serving a summons or like process on a county as a Defendant, as set forth in
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sectionl7.024(a). Coryell County acted or failed to act
at all relevant times through its employees, agents, representatives, jailers, and/or chief
policymakers and is liable for such actions andlor failure to act the extent allowed by law
(including but not necessarily limited to law applicable to claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $ 1983).
Coryell County's policies, practices, and/or customs were moving forces behind constitutional
violations, and resulting damages and death, referenced and asserted in this pleading.
natural person who resides and is domiciled, and may be served with process, at 1704 Saunders
Street, Gatesville, Texas 76528. Mr. Lovelady may also be served with process wherever he may
be found or, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e), by leaving a copy of this complaint
and a summons directed to Mr. Lovelady at Mr. Lovelady's dwelling or usual place of abode with
someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there. Mr. Lovelady is being sued in his
individual capacity and acted at all relevant times under color of state law. Mr. Lovelady was
employed by andlor was the agent and/or designee and/or contractor of and for Coryell County at
all such times and acted or failed to act in the course and scope of his duties for Coryell County.
person who resides and is domiciled, and may be served with process, at 23350 Owl Creek Road,
Gatesville, Texas 76528. Mr. Pelfrey may also be served with process wherever he may be found
or, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e), by leaving a copy of this complaint and a
summons directed to Mr. Pelfrey at Mr. Pelfrey's dwelling or usual place of abode with someone
of suitable age and discretion who resides there. Mr. Pelfrey is being sued in his individual
capacity and acted at all relevant times under color of state law. Mr. Pelfrey was employed by
and/or was the agent andlor designee and/or contractor of and for Coryell County at all such times
and acted or failed to act in the course and scope of his duties for Coryell County.
6. The court has original subject matter jurisdiction over this lawsuit according to 28
U.S.C. $$ 1331 and 1343(4), because this suit presents a federal question and seeks relief pursuant
to federal statutes providing for the protection of civil rights. This suit arises under the United
7. The court has personal jurisdiction over Coryell County because it is a Texas
county. The court has personal jurisdiction over the natural person Defendants because they reside
C. Venue
8. Venue is proper in the Waco Division of the United States District Court for the
Western District of Texas, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. $ l39l(b)(2), because it is the division in the
district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to claims asserted in this
pleading occurred.
A. Introduction
9. The Plaintiffs provide in the factual allegations sections below the general
substance of certain factual allegations. The Plaintiffs do not intend that those sections provide in
detail, or necessarily in chronological order, any or all allegations. Rather, the Plaintiffs intend
that those sections provide the Defendants sufficient fair notice of the general nature and substance
of the Plaintiffs' allegations, and further demonstrate that the Plaintiffs' claim(s) have facial
plausibility. Whenever the Plaintiffs plead factual allegations "upon information and belief," the
Plaintiffs are pleading, in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(bX3), that the
specified factual contentions have evidentiary support or in the alternative will likely have
10. Kelli Leanne Page ("Kelli") was bom as Kelli Leanne Fairchild in February 1971
in Atchison, Kansas. Kelli, as a young child, seemed to always have a smile on her face, and she
had a big heart and wanted to help others. She went to high school, through the 9th grade, in
Atchison. Kelli enjoyed fishing and going on nature walks. Kelli suffered hardships as a result of
choices made later in life, but she did not deserve the death she ultimately suffered.
C. Jailer Lovelady's October 7.2017 Use of Force with and Cell Extraction of Kelli
I 1. On Saturday, October 7, 2017, the day before Kelli's death, Jailer Lovelady and
Jailer Washington extracted Kelli from her cell in a manner violating numerous Coryell County
jail extraction policies detailed in this complaint. As a result of the manner in which they chose to
extract Kelli on that date, Kelli's head/face hit the jail cell wall. She suffered a contusion and
hematoma significant enough for Coryell County jailers to take her to Coryell Memorial Hospital
for medical care. Medical records for that visit indicate that Kelli had bilateral pitting edema
(swelling) of both lower legs. Upon information and belief Jailer Lovelady was aware of such
swelling, and that it indicated that Kelli had significant health issues.
12. Both Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Washington indicated in statements that Kelli was
placed into a restraint chair after being physically extracted from her cell. Thus, they should have
complied with Coryell County cell extraction rules and not attempted to extract Kelli with only
two jailers. Regardless, Jailer Lovelady was put on notice that, if he chose to extract Kelli from
the cell the following day, he may need assistance and should certainly comply with Coryell
County policy in utilizing at least a five-person extraction team. Upon information and belief,
Jailer Lovelady also used OC pepper spray at that time. Another prisoner indicated that, after this
13. Upon information and belief, Southern Health Partners provided healthcare at the
Coryell County jail to prisoners at all times relevant to this case. A Southem Health Partners
record indicates that Coryell County Officer Willingham made a call on October 7,2017 , because
one of Kelli's feet was cool or blue in comparison to the other. The record also indicates that Kelli
had new or worsening symptoms. Moreover, Officer Willingham said that Kelli's feet were
turning black, and were swollen. Apparently, the person working for Southem Health Partners
said that Kelli should be taken to a hospital emergency room immediately. Upon information and
belief, Jailer Lovelady was aware of Kelli's issue arising on the same day that he had chosen to
use force with her, ultimately causing a hospital visit due to her suffering a black eye when hitting
14. Further, upon information and belief, a detention medical questionnaire report
regarding Kelli was available to both Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey, and they were generally
aware of the issues in it regarding Kelli. In the alternative, if they were not aware of such issues,
it would have been due to a Coryell County policy, practice, or custom of deliberate indifference
in not requiring jailers to become generally aware of health issues with prisoners. That record
indicates that Kelli had as some issues: shortness of breath; heart problems; and high blood
pressure. Thus, upon information and belief, Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey knew that they
would be dealing with a person with significant health issues and must adjust any use of force
accordingly.
D. Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's October 8. 2017 Use of Force with Kelli and
Kelli's Death
15. Information in this portion of the complaint was gained through review of video
recordings obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety in response to a Public
Information Act request. Times provided below of certain events are made upon information and
belief, and best efforts have been used to provide the appropriate times. Plaintiffs intend that the
16. On Sunday, October 8,2077, the day Kelli died, a video camera captured much of
what occurred in her cell during a relevant time period. This pleading does not detail all of the
recordings made on the morning of Kelli's death, but rather the material substance of what
appeared to occur as evidenced by those recordings for a certain time preceding her death as well
17 . Kelli was, for a significant period of time prior to cell entry by Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey, primarily standing by her cell door, not acting aggressively, and not doing much of
anything of importance. The video recording shows Kelli apparently sleeping on the cell bed for
a period ending at approximately 7:08 a.m. Kelli then wakes up and lays on the bed from
approximately 7:09 a.m. until approximately 7:26 a.m. She then sits up on the bed until
approximately 7:38 a.m. at which time she uses the restroom. She finishes using the restroom at
approximately 7:45 a.m., finishes dressing, and stands by the cell door until approximately 7:52
a.m. From that time until approximately 7:57 a.m., Kelli stands by the cell door for most of the
time. She also combs her hair and uses what appears to be a Styrofoam cup of water. In substance,
Kelli is not doing much of anything, is not acting aggressively, and is not a danger to herself or
others. She also is not causing a disturbance and/or doing anything that materially affects order in
the jail.
18. From approximately 7:57 a.m. until approximately 8:15 am. Kelli is primarily
standing by the door and tapping on the window at times. She hits her hip against the door at least
once. She appears to be attempting to get someone's attention, but she is not aggressively banging
on the door, slamming her body against the door, and/or taking any other actions which indicate
19. From approximately 8:14 a.m. to approximately 8:27 a.m., Kelli appears to be
talking to someone on the other side of her cell door andlor is primarily standing by the door and/or
using and/or refilling the apparent Styrofoam cup with water. From approximately 8:27 a.m. until
approximately 8:29 a.m., Kelli stands bythe door, sets the apparent Styrofoam cup back on a shelf
(after drinking from it before), puts her shoes on, and goes back to standing by the door. Thus,
when viewing Kelli and her actions in the minutes leading up to cell entry by Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey, Kelli appears to be doing nothing much of any importance. Instead, Kelli simply
appears to be a person in a cell who was bored and wants to communicate with other human beings.
20. There certainly appears to be nothing leading up to the cell entry by Defendants
Lovelady and Pelfrey which would cause any reasonable officer or jailer to believe that the force
which Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey would ultimately use was reasonable or necessary. In
fact, the use of force was punishment. Kelli is not acting aggressively, is not a danger to herself
or others, and is not, in the minutes leading up to the cell entry and use of force, significantly
2I. Kelli, at approximately 8:28:40 a.m., holds onto the sink in her cell with her right
hand, with apparently a brush in her hand, to steady herself to be able to put on her shoes. The
shoes appeared to be Crocs-style shoes. It appears that Kelli must steady herself due to a physical
inability to stand while putting on her shoes and/or balance herself while doing so. Kelli then
retums to the door and lightly taps on the glass with her brush. The recording ends at
22. The next recording begins at approximately 08:29:35 a.m. Thus, upon information
and belief, there were 20 seconds immediately preceding the use of force cell entry, by Defendants
Lovelady and Pelfrey, which were not recorded. However, based upon the manner in which Kelli
was standing at the beginning of this recording, and at the conclusion of the prior recording, upon
information and belief, Kelli was not in the intervening approximately 20 seconds acting
aggressively, banging on the door, kicking on the door, or doing anything else that would require
cell extraction and placement into a restraint chair. Thus, upon information and belief, any such
cell extraction and intent to place her into a restraint chair was unnecessary, unreasonable,
door. Kelli immediately backs away to what appears to be at least three to four feet from the door,
out of deference for the officer appearing at her door, and she continues facing the door. There
appears to be some discussion at that point, and Kelli is not making any aggressive movements.
The officer, Jailer Lovelady, leans down and sprays what was, upon information and belief, OC
spray, at Kelli through the door slot designed for the passing of food and/or other items. Jailer
Lovelady chose to use this improper use of force as a result of his use of force incident with Kelli
the day before. Thus, before he even entered the cell, Jailer Lovelady expected that he and Jailer
Pelfrey would need to use significant force with Kelli. Jailer Lovelady knew that he and Jailer
Pelfrey should not go into the cell if they intended to use force, which Plaintiffs contend was
unreasonable and unnecessary, unless he used at least a five-member extraction team contemplated
24. Kelli reacts as any human being would, by turning around and walking away from
the door toward the back of the cell. She was simply moving so that she would not suffer the
25. At this point, the bed was to Kelli's right, on the wall, and she was facing the
commode and sink (which appeared to be an integrated unit, and which were mounted to a wall
jutting out from the back wall of the cell at some angle (possibly a right angle)). Kelli merely
stands in that position, facing the back of the cell, attempting to avoid being sprayed in the face or
on other parts of her body with OC spray. She is holding a brush in her right hand, but not doing
anything at all with it, not raising her hand, and not acting in an aggressive manner. She then
places her left hand onto the sink to, upon information and belief, steady herself. Upon information
and belief, Kelli's legs were swollen due to underlying health issues.
26. Jailer Lovelady opens the cell door and begins to enter. Kelli turns around, still
steadying herself with her left hand on the sink, with the brush in her right hand and her arm
straight down at her side, with arm relaxed, and making no aggressive movement whatsoever
toward the entering officer. Another jailer enters just behind, such jailer being, upon information
andbelief,JailerPelfrey. Atapproximately08:30:l0a.m.,JailerLoveladyeitherspraysoractsas
if he intends to spray Kelli with OC spray, causing her to turn her head for protection. At
approximately 08:30:14 a.m., Jailer Lovelady reaches over toward Kelli and sprays OC spray
toward her face, while she at the same time naturally turns her head to avoid the likely stinging
27. Kelli continues steadying herself by holding onto the sink with her left hand, and
Jailer Lovelady sprays her again at approximately 08:30:17 a.m. Jailer Lovelady appears to spray
her yet an additional time at approximately 08:30:18 a.m. Kelli then picks up what appears to be
a blanket to cover her head to protect herself from the continued administration of what was, upon
information and belief, OC spray. Jailer Lovelady then, while behind Kelli, grabs Kelli's right
wrist with both of his hands while turning his body in a clockwise position, pulls on Kelli's arm,
and slams her to the concrete floor - face-down. Both Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey appear
28. Jailer Lovelady extracts the brush from Kelli's hand at approximately 08:30:33
a.m., and the brush falls to the floor. Thus, at this point, it appears that Kelli had nothing in her
hands which could be used as a weapon. Moreover, upon information and belief, the brush was
not of sufficient size, shape, or design that it could have caused serious injury or death either to
Jailer Lovelady or Jailer Pelfrey, if in fact Kelli had hypothetically attempted to use is as a weapon.
significant portion of his weight on Kelli's posterior area, being on her buttocks, while she is face
down. Shortly thereafter, he gets off of Kelli and is attempting to do or does one or more things
which are blocked from view by his body being between the camera and Kelli's body. Kelli
continues in a prone position (face down) until approximately 08:31:16 a.m. at which time she
rotates her body such that her left side is on the floor and her right side is rising from the floor.
Upon information and belief, she does so because she is having difficulty breathing due to her pre-
existing medical conditions, compounded by the struggle initiated by Jailer Lovelady and being
slammed to the floor by him, as well as the position in which Jailer Lovelady has put Kelli. Kelli
attempts to flip over onto her back and ultimately is able to generally do so.
30. Jailer Lovelady punches Kelli in her face with a closed fist at approximately
08:31 :44 a.m. Upon information and belief, there are other times when Jailer Lovelady hits Kelli
with a closed fist and are not necessarily described in this pleading. Upon information and belief
Kelli continues having difficulty breathing. At approximately 08:31 :57 a.m.,Jailer Lovelady once
again punches Kelli in the head with a closed fist while she lays on the floor. Some time at or
before approximately 08:31:57 a.m., Jailer Pelfrey puts his weight onto his forearm onto Kelli's
upper back andlor neck area (partially obscured from view by Jailer Pelfrey's body) while Kelli is
prone on the concrete floor. At around the same time or shortly thereafter Jailer Lovelady put his
weight on Kelli's lower back andlor buttocks region. Jailer Pelfrey's legs are extended outside the
open cell door in to the hallway. Thus, if there were any additional available jailers in the hallway,
they would likely see Jailer Pelfrey and come to help. However, upon information and belief, due
to Coryell County custom, policy, andlor practice, no such jailers were present.
31. Jailer Pelfrey continues pinning Kelli's upper body region to the floor, while Kelli
was face down, while Jailer Lovelady handcuffs Kelli behind her back. Kelli moves her legs, upon
information and belief and attempts to breathe and/or move her body in a manner allowing her to
breathe. At some point during the use of force by Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey, Kelli's body
goes limp.
32. At approximately 08:34:48 a.m., the jailers turn Kelli's body over. Kelli is lying
on her back, not moving. Jailer Lovelady shakes Kelli's upper body at approximately 08:35:08
a.m. and receives no response. He and Jailer Pelfrey appear to do not much of anything for a few
seconds and then, at approximately 08:35:47 a.m. Jailer Pelfrey unlocks the handcuffs. At
approximately 08:36:05 a.m., Jailer Lovelady begins doing chest compressions. Unfortunately, it
was too late. Kelli does not recover and dies as a result of the use of force by Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey.
33. Kelli did not, at the time she was killed, present a threat of serious bodily harm to
Jailer Lovelady or Jailer Pelfrey. Her attempts to flip over from the prone position were, upon
information and belief, natural attempts to breathe and save her own life. Kelli was thus resisting
being handcuffed andlor subdued, but she was no match for the two large jailers. This was
evidenced by the jailers' ability to hold Kelli in a prone position on the floor with enough force to
34. Moreover, Kelli was clearly not fleeing at the time. She was literally captive in a
jail cell. There was absolutely no reason for the jailers to use such force with her when they could
have, if necessary (which the Plaintiffs deny), used a five-member extraction team to assure that
Plaintiffs'Original Complaint-Page l5 of 57
Case 6:19-cv-00029-ADA-JCM Document 1 Filed 01/30/19 Page 16 of 57
no serious injury to Kelli or any jailer occurred. It was patently unreasonable for the two jailers to
violate County policy, and ultimately kill Kelli. There were no exigent circumstances requiring
immediate entry, and Jailers Lovelady and Pelfrey could have taken more time to formulate an
appropriate plan. Instead, they chose to take matters into their own hands, violating both Coryell
35. These facts also inform a third factor to be considered when determining the
reasonableness of force by jailers - whether the injured person had been accused of committing
any serious crime. Here, Kelli had merely been tapping her brush on the cell door in order to get
the attention of a jailer to communicate regarding one or more issues. Thus, she had committed
no crime and certainly did not deserve the treatment that she received. According to Fifth Circuit
precedent, and its clearly-established law, Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey were put on notice
that manhandling and forcing Kelli into a constricting, prone (face-down) position, under such
U.S.C. $ 1983. Thus, Jailers Lovelady and Pelfrey possessing, upon information and belief,
information regarding Kelli's pre-existing issues and inablility to breathe well, are liable for her
death even if a reasonable healthy person would not have died with application of the same amount
of force.
36. Moreover, it was clearly established that forcing a person onto his or her stomach
and applying pressure to his or her back is an unreasonable use of force, especially in light of any
pre-existing medical conditions which might contribute to that person's ultimate death. It was also
clearly established that ajailer must exercise greater care with a person such as Kelli, who was
obese, when using force, and that handcuffing a person behind his or her back and laying that
person in a prone position could lead to positional asphyxia (otherwise known as hypoxia).
37. Every reasonable officer/jailer in Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's positions
would have known that their actions violated such clearly-established constitutional rights. Jailer
Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's actions resulted in, were producing causes of and were proximate
causes of Kelli's death and all damages asserted andlor referenced in this pleading.
38. Coryell County, pursuant to its jail's chief policymaker (as designated by the
Coryell County Commissioner's Court), Sheriff Scott A. Williams, had in place at the time of
Kelli's death a"Jail Policy and Procedure Operations Manuel" (sic) ("Jail Manual"). The jail was
39. Defendant Lovelady and Pelfrey intended to extract Kelli from her cell just prior to
her death. The Jail Manual contains a cell extraction policy which indicates, in part, is "to be used
[t]o safely extract offenders from cells who refuse to be moved." The policy indicates that the jail
"will maintain a well-trained cell extraction team in order to remove offenders from their cells
when their behavior poses a threat to the smooth operation of the jail or themselves." Upon
information and belief, Defendant Lovelady and Defendant Pelfrey were aware of this policy and
40. Further, Coryell County, upon information and belief chose not to sufficiently staff
the jail so that compliance with the policy, as referenced above and below, would occur.
Nevertheless, even if Coryell County chose not to sufficiently staff the jail, Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey should have refused to extract Kelli unless and until there was sufficient staff available.
Choosing not to comply with the policy resulted in unreasonable, unconstitutional use of force and
Kelli's death.
41. The Jail Manual indicates that the Sheriff is responsible for the assignment,
training, and readiness of the jail cell extraction team. The Jail Manual reads: "Cell extractions
will be executed by trained teams ONLY. Any other staff, alone or in groups, will NOT attempt
cell extractions, except in ernergency situations, and then only to prevent eminent [sic] serious
injury or death." Kelli's situation on the date of her death was not an emergency, and there was
no need to enter her cell to prevent imminent serious injury or death. Thus Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey were deliberately indifferent to Kelli's health and safety and chose to act in an
42. The cell extraction policy in the Jail Manual is fairly specific. It requires in part
that:
o Each team member, unless directed otherwise by the team leader, will perform
o There is to be no talking between team members when inside a cell, other than
an announcement of when restraints have been applied, and then simply the
o The sequence of staff members should not be broken when executing a cell
extraction.
o There must always be one or two alternate staff members standing by in the
and assignment;
o Flak vest;
o Groin protector;
o Leather gloves;
r Gas mask;
o Shin guards;
o Elbow pads;
o Shield.
43. Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey chose not to follow any of these requirements
and thereby acted in a constitutionally unreasonable manner when using force with Kelli. If they
had chosen to follow this policy, which could have only occurred with additional staff provided
by Coryell County, then they would have been provided protection from any alleged injury by
Kelli. By choosing not to follow these policies, Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey escalated the
situation and invited and caused injury and extended physical exertion.
44. The cell extraction policy in the Jail Manual also contains a fairly detailed policy
regarding video camera operations, which has embedded in it additional policies related to the cell
o The cell extraction recording shall begin in a marshalling area or neutral area where
o The video operator shall introduce himself or herself as the operator and note the
o The video recorder will introduce the supervisor/team leader by full name and rank.
o The team leader/supervisor will introduce the members of the extraction team, each
member being identified by his or her specific job assignment corresponding with
an alphabetical or numerical designation on his or her helmet, also at the same time
describing the events leading up to the decision to deploy a forced extraction team.
o When the extraction team is ready to mobilize to the incident site, the video operator
will assume responsibility for narrating the rernainder of the incident, except for the
o A step-by-step narrative will describe the significance of the events from the
the entire event (including transfer, decontamination, and medical exam and
debriefing).
o If OC or other chernical mix is used, the narrator/video recorder shall announce the
time that the inmate was warned, and the narrator shall don a gas mask.
o The cell extraction team may use an electronic control device during a cell
None of these things happened. In fact, the manner in which Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey
chose to conduct the extraction operation had not even a slight resemblance to Coryell County
policies regarding such extraction. Their failure to comply with such policies is evidence of
unreasonableness and deliberate indifference giving rise to Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth
45. The cell extraction policy also includes a section for responsibilities of the team
leader/supervisor. That section lists responsibilities in eight lettered paragraphs. The policy also
has a section for responsibilities of team members, such responsibilities being listed in several
lettered paragraphs. The first responsibility of a team member requires: "No maneuver utilized by
team members will place any pressure on the front of an offender's neck that would result in the
compression of the airway." Upon information and belief, Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey knew
of this policy - and that failing to comply with it could result in a prisoner's death. Moreover, the
policy was an admission by Coryell County that failing to provide appropriate staff to conduct a
cell extraction, thus resulting in a lesser number of staff potentially maneuvering a prisoner into
46. The policy recommends a five-member cell extraction team, with each member
Interestingly, Coryell County chooses to refer to its prisoners as "offenders" even though many
such prisoners had not been convicted of anything (such as Kelli). Nevertheless, this policy
recognized that only two jailers conducting extraction of a prisoner who does not wish to be
extracted would be wholly inadequate and unreasonable. Upon information and belief Jailer
Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey knew of this policy, and that extraction by only two people of a
prisoner such as Kelli would be unreasonable and could result in serious injury to and death of
Kelli.
47. The portion of the cell extraction policy regarding use of force through use of a
This policy which was, upon information and belief, known to Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey,
put them on notice that extended physical interaction with Kelli, and exertion by her, especially in
light of her underlying health issues and visibly apparent obesity, would quickly lead to her
exhaustion. While an electronic control device was not used in this case, Jailer Lovelady and Jailer
Pelfrey were on notice that such exhaustion would significantly increase the risk of Kelli's death
- especially if Kelli were put into a prone position on the concrete floor and at the same time
48. The policy explicitly recognizes that constitutional duties are at issue, by noting
that jailers could be sued for improper use of force. Specifically, the policy indicates that jail
personnel should consider a particular prisoner - and any vulnerabilities the prisoner may have -
oosome jails have been criticized
because as well as sued for use [of TASERs] on pregnant women
and the elderly." Kelli's condition was clear to both Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey, and Jailer
Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey were fully aware that they owed constitutional obligations to Kelli to
49. The policy also requires that medical personnel should be alerted, when available,
in the jail clinic during cell extractions. Further, the cell extraction team leader/supervisor must
ensure that aprisoner has no medical conditions that would present the use of OC andlor chemical
agents. The policy also reads that, where feasible, on-site medical staffor EMS should be available
during cell extractions. It appears that these policies were wholly or substantially igrtored.
Regardless, it also appears that Coryell County had failed to sufficiently staff the jail to allow
compliance with such policies. This amounted to deliberate indifference to the health and safety
50. The policy also requires that, prior to the use of OC or OC mixed with chemical
agents, approval must be obtained from the highest-ranking person on site. Further, gas masks
must be used, and the offender must be warned by the extraction team leader that OC or OC mixed
with chemical agents will be applied. The policy once again emphasizes a five-person extraction
team by requiring that such a five-person extraction team move the prisoner after the cell extraction
is complete. Once again, this policy was violated with regard to Kelli.
51. The policy also requires jail staff to make all reasonable efforts to avoid striking
prisoners in the head, neck, eyes, or genitals. The policy also warns about positional asphyxiation.
The policy includes the statement: "As a precaution against positional asphyxiation, a restrained
offender will not be left in a prone position alone or for any length of time following the use of
OC or OC mixed with chemical agents." The policy further specifically reads, "No maneuver,
which places any pressure on the front of the offender's neck, resulting in compression of the
airway, may be used." Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey also violated these policies.
r All personnel will receive training prior to being assigned to a position involving the
possible use of force.
o All jail staff must receive training in cell extractions before they can participate on a
It appears that no such training of Defendant Lovelady and Defendant Pelfrey occurred. This is
evidence of Coryell County's deliberate indifference to the health and safety of its prisoners and
52. The Jail Manual also contains a use of restraints section. That section defines an
emergency restraint chair as a "chair specifically designed to restrain an inmate's arms, legs,
shoulders, and chest while in a seated position." Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey intended to
place Kelli into an emergency restraint chair after extracting her from the cell. This section of the
manual also prohibits the o'hog-tie" method of restraining an inmate. It further reads, "No inmate
shall be placed in the restraint chair without the approval of the jail administrator or shift
commander."
53. The training section of the Jail Manual mandates that the Sheriff shall be
responsible for the hiring and training of all personnel necessary to operate and maintain the jail.
Such training would thus include training regarding use of force including cell extraction. Upon
information and belief, the Sheriff, as the chief policymaker for the jail, decided not to provide
such training to Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey in a manner that complied with County policy.
Thus, it was the County itself that chose not to provide, upon information and belief, such training.
F. Autopsy Report
54. The Office of the Medical Examiner, in Dallas County, at the Southwestern
Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas, conducted an autopsy of Kelli. The autopsy was
performed at the request of Justice of the Peace Coy Latham, Precinct 4, in Coryell County. Upon
information and belief, Justice of the Peace Latham did so because he knew that the Dallas County
Office of the Medical Examiner employed competent, experienced medical examiners who would
55. The autopsy indicated that Kelli was 5'-6" tall, weighedzz}lbs., and therefore had
a body mass index of 35.51. The medical examiner determined that Kelli was morbidly obese.
This determination did not require a medical opinion, as it was obvious to Jailer Lovelady and
Jailer Pelfrey that Kelli was obese at the time they used force just prior to her death.
56. There were red abrasions over Kelli's central chest, and her sternum was fractured
at the level of the third rib. The left second through sixth ribs were also fractured, and there were
hernorrhages involving the mediastinum, as well as focal contusions involving the atria. The
medical examiner noted that the fractures and hemorrhages were consistent with injuries which
could occur during attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, although it was possible that they
were present before such attempted resuscitation. If they were present before such attempted
resuscitation, upon information and belie{ they were caused by the use of force by Jailer Lovelady
and Jailer Pelfrey. The medical examiner also noted blunt force injuries to the head.
57. The medical examiner's finding included the finding that Kelli died of
"[m]echanical asphyxia in association with physical restraint." The medical examiner wrote:
Per reported history andlor video evidence, jailers attempted to restrain the
decedent and she resisted and became combative. The officers attempted to
handcuff her, but she took the handcuffs and refused to give them back. She was
eventually restrained in a prone position with one officer putting force on her
upper back region and another officer putting force on her buttocks/thighs
until she became unresponsive.
(Emphasis added).
Based on the case history and autopsy findings, it is my opinion that Kelli Leanne
Page, a 46-yearold female, died as a result of mechanical asphyxia in
association with physical restraint. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease
cirrhosis, and obesity likely contributed to the cause of death.
(Emphasis added).
58. The medical examiner listed as the manner of death, "Homicide." Jailer Lovelady
and Jailer Pelfrey killed Kelli through the manner in which they chose to physically restrain Kelli,
together with their actions in the jail cell leading up to that physical restraint. Kelli did not "just
59. There is little doubt that the opinion regarding the cause and manner of Kelli's
death, determined by the medical examiner conducting the autopsy, was shared by numerous other
competent medical examiners at the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner. The following
Upon information and belief, these physicians signed the autopsy only after reviewing evidence
sufficient to provide each with the professional medical opinion that the autopsy findings were
60. Coryell County Sheriff Scott Williams completed a custodial death report, as
required by law, and it was transmitted to the Attomey General of Texas. He also completed an
amended rqrort, which was also transmitted to the Attorney General of Texas.
61. The amended report indicated that Kelli's original date of custody was May 5,2017
- over five months prior to her eventual death. Therefore, upon information and belief, Jailer
Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey were well aware of Kelli's personality, physical limitations, illnesses,
62. The Sheriff was candid when writing, ooManner of Death: Homicide (includes
Justifiable Homicide)." He was also candid when writing, "Medical Cause of Death: Mechanical
asphyxia in association with physical restraint." The Sheriff also noted that Kelli had been treated
for a medical condition which he believed "caused" Kelli's death, although Plaintiffs disagree that
the pre-existing medical condition was the primary proximate or producing cause of her death.
Nevertheless, even if Kelli was more susceptible to injury andlor death than an averago person,
the "eggshell skull" rule allows recovery in this case. Despite the fact that the Sheriff listed the
manner of Kelli's death as being a homicide, when completing an answer to the question in the
standard report, "Who caused the death?" he wrote, "Not applicable." The Sheriff knew who
caused Kelli's death, but he refused to list Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's names.
63. The report also admits that the purpose of Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey
entering the cell on the day of Kelli's death was to restrain her, extract her from the cell, and put
her into a restraint chair until she allegedly "calmed down." However, upon information and
belief, Kelli did not need to "calm down." Instead, upon information and belief this was a cover-
64. The entire use of force preceding Kelli's death was for the purpose of the cell
extraction - and to punish Kelli. The report also indicates that Kelli allegedly "refused all orders
grven to her by jail staff." While Plaintiffs do not necessarily agree with such an assertion, if true,
it had become clear to Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey that an extraction team would need to be
used (as opposed to simply two officers entering the cell without back-up). Jailer Lovelady knew
this from his use of force with Kelli the day before (resulting in her being taken to a hospital for
medical treatment) and Jailer Pelfreyhad learned sufficient details of Jailer Lovelady's use of force
to also put him on notice as to the need for at least a five-person extraction team.
65. The report also indicates that one of the jailers sprayed OC pepper spray through
the food slot of the cell door. The report also indicate that jailers had applied two knee strikes to
Kelli's right leg, and also struck her in the head with a closed fist. Further, the report indicates
that the jailer "struck Page about the face." There are references to Kelli biting or attempting to
bite one of the officers. While Plaintiffs do not necessarily agree that all of these statements are
true, if believed by the jailers, and/or if true, this is further evidence of the need for an appropriate,
trained extraction team as opposed to two jailers, attempting to do what could only reasonably be
66. Upon information and belief, all of Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's training
related to working in a countyjail has been reported to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
(TCOLE). According to TCOLE, Jailer Lovelady was initially licensed as a jailer at approximately
the same time he began working for the Coryell County sheriff s office - on or about May 3, 2004.
Moreover, according to his TCOLE record, he continued working for Coryell County, without
intemrption, from that date through the date Kelli died. Therefore, he had gained significant
experience as well as education reflected by his TCOLE record, regarding how to interact with
prisoners, and use of force which could result in serious injury or death of prisoners (including but
not limited to holding obese prisoners and/or prisoners with preexisting health issues in a prone
position on a hard floor). Further, prior to his employment at the Coryell County Sheriff s Office,
he gained additional experience while working pursuant to a contract jailer certificate at the T.
Don Hutto Correction Center from approximately March 10, 2003 through approximately
February 8, 2006. As these dates reveal, there is a period of time where Jailer Lovelady was
working for both Coryell County and at the T. Don Hutto Correction Center. Jailer Lovelady
received his basic jailer certificate on September 25,2007, and his intermediate jailer proficiency
67. Jailer Lovelady, according to TCOLE records, completed at least the following
training, some of which was use-of-force-specific, and the rest of which, upon information and
68. Upon information and belief, Jailer Lovelady would have learned from these
courses that he should not have used the force which is otherwise more specifically described
herein with Kelli, including but not limited to holding her in a prone position after she had been
exerting herself and due to her pre-existing healthcare issues and obesity. Further, upon
information and belief, Jailer Lovelady would have learned of legal liabilities potentially arising
from constitutional violations related to use of excessive force, as well as related case law regarding
69. TCOLE records for Jailer Pelfrey show that, at the time of Kelli's death, Jailer
Pelfrey had not had even a single hour of training related to jail operations, use of force, how to
physically handle prisoners with pre-existing health care issues, or the effects of holding a prisoner
in a prone position. Instead, upon information and belief, Coryell County chose to save money at
the expense of Kelli's life by hiring Jailer Pelfrey and using him pursuant to a temporary jailer
license. Upon information and belief, there would have been sufficient jailers in the employment
market, with jailer licenses, who Coryell County could have hired instead of hiring Jailer Pelfrey.
70. TCOLE records indicate that Jailer Pelfrey received a temporary jailer license on
May 22,2017 under which he operated until approximately April 2,2018, all the time working for
the Coryell County Sheriffls Office. TCOLE records also indicate that Jailer Pelfrey did not
receive a jailer license until well after Kelli's death - on or about April 2,2018. In fact, TCOLE
records indicate that Jailer Pelfrey did not receive any training whatsoever related to acting as a
jailer at the Coryell County jail until November 1, 2017 (atwhich time he took an 8-hour less lethal
chemical weapons training course). TCOLE records indicate that Jailer Pelfrey did not even
complete the Basic County Jail Course, comprised of 108 hours, until March 29,2018. When he
did so, that training occurred out of county - at the Bell County Sheriff s Office.
71. Regardless of his lack of training regarding working in the county jail, upon
information and belief, Jailer Pelfrey knew when he participated in holding Kelli in a prone
position, after observing and participating in the use of force leading up to it, that she likely would
not survive. While Jailer Pelfrey indicated in a staternent that he had training and experience,
while working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, regarding use of force and use of
different type of chemical agents, the TCOLE records still reflect no jail-related training as of the
72. Coryell County is liable for all damages referenced and asserted in this pleading
pursuant to Monellv. Department of Soc. Servs.,436 U.S.658 (1978) and its progeny. Such
liability arises due to the action andlor inaction of the chief policymaker for Coryell County
regarding jailer policies. The chief policymaker for the jail was the Sheriff at all relevant times,
or the chief policymaker for the County had delegated such chief policymaking authority,
regarding jail activities, to the Sheriff. In the alternative, the Coryell County Commissioner's
Court was the chiefpolicymaker regarding issues related to staffing and budgets. Regardless, Fifth
Circuit precedent is clear that Plaintiffs need not identify the specific chief policymaker at this
stage of the proceedings. The County's action and inaction otherwise referenced in this pleading,
related to alleged damages, and its policies, practices, and/or customs were moving forces behind,
resulted in, were producing causes of, and were proximate causes of the referenced constitutional
73. Upon information and belief Kelli needed to have her inhaler refilled, and one or
more Coryell County employees failed andlor refused to do so. Upon information and belief, this
would help Kelli breathe better. The Coryell County jail was also put on notice in July 2017 of
Kelli's ongoing significant health issues. Nicole Crouch and James Crouch wrote a letter to the
Texas Commission on Jail Standards which, upon information and belief, was fairly quickly
thereafter transmitted to the Coryell County jail. That letter read in part:
The concern at hand is that Ms. Page has a history of not being able to
breath[e] when she gets this swollen and has needed the care of a doctor. I
would ask you to please investigate this situation and inform our family of your
findings.
(Emphasis added)
Thus, the Coryell County jail, and, upon information and belief, Jailer Lovelady and Jailer Pelfrey
were aware of Kelli's breathing problerns. This was further information possessed by those two
jailers, as if they needed it, that Kelli should not be handcuffed and restrained in a prone position
74. The actions of Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey were consistent with what appears
to be recent Coryell County jail employee culture. This culture, or custom, upon information and
belief, was a moving force behind and was a proximate and/or producing cause of Kelli's death.
75. On Wednesday, October 11,2017, two Coryell County jailers surrendered to the
Sheriff after one of them put pepper spray into a prisoner's food in June 2017 . Jason David Sherrill
and Brent Welden Schmidt were charged with official oppression after a Texas Rangers
investigation resulted in allegations that Sherill had put pepper spray into the food of a male
inmate. Jailer Schmidt allegedly looked on while this occurred. This arrest was only three days
after Kelli's death and demonstrated, upon information and belief, the jail's anti-prisoner culture.
76. Before that, on or about January 25,2017, two Coryell County jailers were arrested
for selling drugs to County jail inmates. Jailers Kevin Arzate and Paul Picetti were booked for
77. If these arrests were not enough, on or about November 29, 2018, a grand jury
indicted a Coryell County jail administrator for oppression. Lieutenant Karen Porter assaulted a
female inmate in August 2018. Apparently, there is and has been something amiss in the Coryell
County jail.
78. Coryell County jail issues are due in part due to the County's refusal to compensate
its jailers well enough to assure proper interaction with and care of prisoners. Coryell County, by
refusing to pay marketlevel wages, has decided not to hire competent jailers but instead, upon
information and belief, jailers who will not perform as well as at least an average jailer. Coryell
County Sheriff Scott Williams was quoted in a late 2018 news story indicating that, for Coryell
County to be competitive with other Texas counties, it needs to raise base salaries by at least
The pool that I have to draw from to hire jailers, dispatchers and deputies is getting
quite shallow and very mossy. And by saying that, I don't want to hire someone
else's problem. I don't want to hire somebody that may become a civil liability.
So, I would like to promote and move on and train the folks that I know are going
to be an asset to Coryell County.
Sheriff Williams also said that it has been difficult for him to keep employees when Coryell County
has not provided wages that are competitive. This County decision, and thus policy, was upon
information and belief a moving force behind, and a producing cause of andlor a proximate cause
of, Kelli's death, including by but not limited to the necessity of hiring Defendant Pelfrey without
his having secured a jailer license and the attendant jail training.
79. Coryell County's customs and practices, contrary to relevant written jail policies
and procedures, were moving forces behind and caused Kelli's death. As set forth in this pleading,
Coryell County had in place certain written policies applicable to the use of force with and
attempted cell extraction of Kelli. However, written policies alone are not dispositive as to a
county's actual customs and practices. In fact, as shown above and below in this pleading, despite
Coryell County's written policies regarding use of at least a five-member cell extraction team,
Coryell County's jail culture, failure to properly staffthe jail, decision to allow the jail to be overly-
crowded, and, upon information and belief, practice and custom of allowing less than a five-
member team to extract prisoners from cells are moving forces behind and proximately caused
Kelli's injuries and death. Regardless, even though the Plaintiffs plead such written policies above,
they do so for other reasons set forth in this pleading, including but not necessarily limited to show
Defendant Lovelady's and Defendant Pelfrey's disregard of and failure to comply with them (thus
80. Coryell County's policy, practice, and/or custom of understaffing its jail was a
moving force behind and caused Kelli's death. Coryell County made a conscious decision to
understaff its jail, and that decision, which was or resulted in a policy, practice, andlor custom,
was a moving force behind and caused Kelli's death. Coryell Countypurported to have a written
cell extraction policy which required five people to enter a cell to extract a prisoner. However,
upon information and belief Coryell County decided not to staff its jail with a sufficient number
of people to allow such a safe cell extraction to occur. Instead, due to Coryell County's decision
not to appropriately staff the jail, considering the jail's overcrowded conditions and thus the
number of inmates present, jailers on duty could not safely and reasonably extract Kelli from her
cell if in fact such were necessary (which Plaintiffs deny). Texas Ranger Adam Russell, when
testiffing at an inquest regarding Kelli's death, noted the difficulty arising when Coryell County
You have to take into consideration the jail and what its purpose is on the inside,
that's the security and safety for everyone in there, not just the inmates but also the
jailers. You have three jailers on duty with up to 100 people plus on a daily basis
going in and out of that jail. You have one person in the control room, one floor
jail assistant. So you have two people that can walk freely
supervisor, and one
among the halls and attend to the needs of a hundred plus people, which
includes feeding them, getting them their mail, getting them their medication,
which is helped out also by the nurse who is on staff. So there needs to be -
(Emphasis added).
That testimony was cut short by Coryell County District Attorney Dusty Boyd, who said, "Let me
stop you there. . . ." Regardless, Coryell County chose to apparently provide only two people at
the time Kelli was in the jail as well as, upon information and belief, on an ongoing basis, at most
two-to-three people when it knew that a cell extraction would, if conducted reasonably and safely,
require at least five people. This policy, practice, and custom, due to only two jailers attempting
to extract Kelli from her cell, was a moving force behind and caused Kelli's death.
81. Circuit Judge Goldberg, writing a concurring opinion on behalf of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over 25 years ago, unambiguously wrote that the right to
continual monitoring of prisoners with suicidal tendencies was clearly established. ln Rhyne vs.
Henderson County,973 F .2d 386 (5th Cir. 1992),the mother of a pre-trial detainee brought suit for
the death of her child. Kelli's case obviously does not involve a jail suicide. However, Judge
Goldberg's instruction to Texas counties, provided long ago, put Coryell County on notice that it
had continuous duties, twenty-four hours per day, 365 days per year, to assure that the
constitutional rights of its prisoners were not violated (whether through failure to appropriately
staff a jail or otherwise). Judge Goldberg warned and put on notice all policymakers within the
jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: ooWe
need not remind
jailers and municipalities that the Constitution works day and night, weekends and holidays-it
takes no coffee breaks, no winter recess, and no summer vacation." Id. at 395-96. Therefore,
Coryell County's duties to appropriately staff its jail extended beyond the Monday thru Friday
typical work week, and included the weekend, and specifically the Sunday, on which Kelli died.
82. Coryell County's policy, practice, and/or custom of allowing an overcrowded jail
was a moving force behind and caused Kelli's death. Coryell County knew that it had a significant
problem housing all its inmates in its jail. Therefore, it was forced to reach agreements with other
counties to have inmates held by those counties in lieu of having them held at the Coryell County
jail. Nevertheless, the overcrowding in the Coryell County jail was such that, as a result of Coryell
County staffing policies, there was insufficient staff to address inmate situations including that
occurring just prior to Kelli's death. Even though Coryell County shipped off its prisoners to other
jails, the result was still a jail that was far too crowded, especially in light of the limited staff which
Coryell County chose to pay. This amounted to deliberate indifference regarding needs of
83. On or about July I l, 2016, the Coryell County Commissioner's Court voted to
approve an inter-local cooperation agreement with Limestone County to provide housing and care
of Coryell County inmates. Those inmates would be incarcerated in the Limestone County jail at
a cost of $44.00 per day. Upon information and belief, this was due to continued overcrowding in
84. On June 26,2017, the Coryell County Commissioner's Court once again voted to
approve an interlocal cooperation agreement with Limestone County to provide housing and care
of Coryell County inmates. Upon information and belief, this additional agreement was further
85. On or about July 24,2017, the Coryell County Commissioner's Court approved yet
another inter-local cooperation agreement regarding the housing of Coryell County inmates. The
Court approved an agreement with Mclennan County, such that Mclennan County would provide
housing and care of Coryell County inmates. This agreement was additional evidence that Coryell
County continued having an overcrowded jail and, more importantly, Coryell County's inability
as a result to properly care for its inmates and have staff on-duty sufficient to address any situation
which might arise. Further, even Kelli had been moved to the Milam County Jail from
approximately June 7,2017 to approximately June ll, 2017, due to overcrowding at the Coryell
County jail. Kelli had been in a segregated cell in Coryell County since approximately September
12,2017.
86. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards ("TCJS") had, long before Kelli's death,
warned Coryell County about its jail overcrowding. In a February 19,2016 inspection report, the
TCJS inspector provided "technical assistance." The inspector indicated that she had a discussion
with Coryell County officials regarding a new jail facility due to housing approximately 50
87. Moreover, in a March 14, 2017 TCJS inspection report, relating to the Coryell
County jail, the inspector once again provided "technical assistance." The inspector discussed
with one or more Coryell County officials the number of inmates that are housed out-of-county
and the possibility of building a new facility. Thus, long before Kelli's death, Coryell County had
been put on notice of its overcrowding issues and its necessarily-related understaffing issues.
These issues, which were customs and/or practices of Coryell County, were moving forces behind
88. Even after Kelli's death, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards once again
provided "technical assistance" to Coryell Countyregarding overcrowding at its jail. An April 11,
2018 report, indicates that the TCJS inspector discussed with one or more Coryell County officials
the number of inmates that are housed out-of-county, and once again the possibility of building a
new facility. Coryell County's failure to remedy these issues constituted deliberate indifference
89. Upon information and belief Coryell County failed to discipline Defendants
Lovelady and/or Pelfrey as a result of the unconstitutional seizure and use of force. Upon
information and belief, Defendants Lovelady and/or Pelfrey were not given any time off without
pay, were not disciplined, were not reprimanded, were not instructed to act in any different manner
in the future, and were not instructed to participate in any additional training and/or education.
The County possessed all the evidence referenced in this complaint - and more - and nevertheless,
upon information and belief, failed to take any adverse action against Defendants Lovelady and/or
Pelfrey indicating its and/or the Sheriff s displeasure and/or disagreement with the manner in
which force was used with Kelli and which caused her death. Thus, the failure to take any action
following her death was evidence of unwritten policies and/or customs of the County, otherwise
referenced herein. These unwritten policies and/or customs, regarding use of force with Kelli,
90. Coryell County's policy, practice, andlor custom in failing to train jailer Pelfrey
was a moving force behind and caused Kelli's death. As made clear elsewhere in this pleading,
according to Coryell County's jail manual, the Sheriff was responsible for training jail employees.
Moreover, upon information and belief, he was a - or the - chief policymaker regarding jail
practices at all times relevant to this case. As shown above, TCOLE records indicate that Jailer
Pelfrey did not receive jail-specific training prior to being allowed to work pursuant to his
temporary jailer license. While Jailer Pelfrey apparently had received some training while working
for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, undoubtedly training to work in a jail must be
significantly different. Otherwise, presumably, TCOLE would allow such prior training and
experience to substitute for the education Jailer Pelfrey received, after Kelli's death, and which is
referenced in the TCOLE section of this pleading above. Thus, upon information and belief,
Coryell County's policy, practice, andlor custom, in deciding not to have Jailer Pelfrey trained
regarding jail practices and/or use of force prior to Kelli's death, were moving forces behind and
91. In the alternative, without waiving any of the other causes of action pled herein,
without waiving any procedural, contractual, statutory, or common-law right, and incorporating
all other allegations herein (including all factual allegations above) to the extent they are not
inconsistent with the cause of action pled here, Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey are liable to the
Plaintiffs and Kelli's heirs at law, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $ 1983, for violating Kelli's rights
guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment, as the Fourth Amendment has been incorporated to be
applied to the States pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment or otherwise. Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey acted and failed to act under color of state law at all times referenced in this pleading.
Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey were deliberately indifferent to Kelli's constitutional rights, and
they acted in an objectively unreasonable manner when seizing and using force with Kelli. They
exercised constitutionally impermissible excessive force and seizure. Defendants Lovelady and
Pelfrey violated clearly established constitutional rights, and their conduct was objectively
unreasonable in light of clearly established law at the time of the relevant incident.
92. It was clearly-established law, in the Fifth Circuit, at the time Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey chose to assault Kelli, hold her in a prone position on the floor, and handcuff her
behind her back, that people such as Kelli with such underlying health conditions, and who are
morbidly obese, should not be treated in such a manner. This is particularly true with a person
who is not fleeing (but in this case confined to a jail cell) and who is not suspected of a serious
crime (or for that matter any crime at all). Moreover, their violation of Coryell County policies is
qualified immunity.r
93. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that using a state's
wrongful death and survival statutes creates an effective remedy for civil rights claims pursuant to
The defense of qualified immunity is, and should be held to be, a legally impermissible defense except as applied
to stats actors protected by immunity in 1871 when42 U.S.C. $ 1983 was enacted. The Plaintiffs respectfully
make a good faith argument for the modification of existing law, such that the court-+reated doctrine of qualified
immunity be abrogated or limited. The natural person Defendants cannot show that jailers would fall within the
category of persons referenced in the first sentence of this footnote. This would be the Defendants' burden, as
they are asserting the alleged defense. Qualified immunity, as applied to persons not immunized under common
or statutory law in 1871, is untethered to any cognizable legal mandate and is flatly in derogation of the plain
meaning and language of Section 1983. See Ziglar v. Abassi,l37 S. Ct. 1843, 1870-72 (2017) (Thomas, J.,
concurring). Qualified immunity should have never been instituted as a defense, without any statutory,
constitutional, or long-held common law foundation, and it is unworkable, unreasonable, and places too high a
burden on Plaintiffs who suffer violation of their constitutional rights. Joanna C. Schwartz, The Case Against
Qualified Immunity, 93 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1797 (2018) (observing that qualified immunity has no basis in the
common law, does not achieve intended policy goals, can render the Constitution "hollow," and cannot be
justified as protection for governmental budgets); and William Baude, Is Qualified Immunity Unlawful?, 106
Calif. L. Rev. 45, 82 (2018) (noting that, as of the time of the article, ttre United States Supreme Court decided
30 qualified immunity cases since 1982 and found that Defendants violated clearly established law in only 2 such
cases). Justices including Justice Thomas, Justice Breyer, Justice Kennedy, and Justice Sotomayorhave criticized
qualified immutily. Schwartz, supra at 1798-99 . The Plaintiffs include allegations in this footnote to assure that,
if necessary, the qualified immunity abrogation or limitation issue has been preserved.
42 U.S.C. $ 1983. Therefore, Kelli's heirs-at-law, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar
Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
May Gruwell, and the Independent Administrators of the Estate of Kelli Leanne Page, seek all
remedies and damages available under Texas and federal law including but not necessarily limited
to pursuant to the Texas wrongful death statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rern. Code $ 71.002 et seq.),
the Texas survival statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71 .021), the Texas Constitution,
corrmon law, and all related andlor supporting case law. Therefore, Kelli's estate and/or her heirs
at law suffered the following damages, for which they seek recovery from these natural person
Defendants:
. exemplary/punitivedamages.
All such damages were caused and/or proximately caused by the natural person Defendants. If
Kelli had lived, she would have been entitled to bring a 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 action and obtain
94. Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Fairchild also seek all damages available to thern
individually as a result of Kelli's wrongful death. Like all other damages alleged in this section
of this pleading, damages suffered by these people were caused and/or proximately caused by the
natural person Defendants. Therefore, these people seek and are entitled to obtain all rernedies
and damages available to them for the 42U.5.C. $ 1983 claims. The natural person Defendants'
actions caused, were proximate causes of, and/or were producing causes of the following damages
a past mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and caused
by Kelli's death;
a future mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and
caused Kelli's death'
o loss of companionship and society that they would have received from Kelli; and
. exemplary/punitivedamages.
95. Exemplary/punitive damages are appropriate in this case to deter and punish clear
and unabashed violation of Kelli's constitutional rights. The natural person Defendants' actions
andlor inaction showed a reckless or callous disregard of, or indifference to, Kelli's riglrts and
safety. In addition, all such damages resulted from the natural person Defendants choosing to
proceed with conscious indifference to and disregard of Kelli's rights, safety, or welfare after
having an actual subjective awareness of the risk involved but nevertheless proceeding with actions
resulting in her injuries and death. The natural person Defendants' actions, when viewed
objectively from their standpoint at the time of the acts and/or omissions involved, resulted in an
extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and magnitude of potential harm to Kelli.
Moreover, all Plaintiffs (and referenced heirs) seek from the natural person Defendant reasonable
and necessary attorneys' fees available pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $$ 1983 and 1988.
96. In the altemative, without waiving any of the other causes of action pled herein,
without waiving any procedural, contractual, statutory or common-law right, and incorporating
all other allegations herein (including all factual allegations above) to the extent they are not
inconsistent with the cause of action pled here, Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey are liable to the
Plaintiffs and Kelli's heirs at law, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $ 1983, for violating Kelli's rights
guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey acted and failed to
act under color of state law at all times referenced in this pleading. Defendants Lovelady and
Pelfrey were deliberately indifferent to Kelli's constitutional rights, and they acted in an
objectively unreasonable manner when seizing and using force with Kelli. Kelli was a pre-trial
detainee, who had not been convicted, and thus was not constitutionally allowed to be punished at
all. Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's actions referenced herein constituted impermissible,
the United States Constitution. Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey violated clearly established
constitutional rights, and their conduct constituted deliberate indifference toward punishment of
Kelli and/or was objectively unreasonable.
and Pelfrey to use the force they chose to use, and they are not entitled to qualified immunity.
98. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that using a state's
wrongful death and survival statutes creates an effective remedy for civil rights claims pursuant to
42 U.S.C. $ 1983. Therefore, Kelli's heirs-at-law, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar
Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
May Gruwell, and the Independent Administrators of the Estate of Kelli Leanne Page, seek all
remedies and damages available under Texas and federal law including but not necessarily limited
to pursuant to the Texas wrongful death statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71.002 et seq.),
the Texas survival statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71 .021), the Texas Constitution,
cofirmon law, and all related and/or supporting case law. Therefore, Kelli's estate and/or her heirs
at law suffered the following damages, for which they seek recovery from these natural person
Defendants:
. exemplary/punitivedamages.
All such damages were caused and/or proximately caused by the natural person Defendants. If
Kelli had lived, she would have been entitled to bring a 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 action and obtain
99. Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Fairchild also seek all damages available to them
individually as a result of Kelli's wrongful death. Like all other damages alleged in this section
of this pleading, damages suffered by these people were caused andlor proximately caused by the
natural person Defendants. Therefore, these people seek and are entitled to obtain all remedies
and damages available to them for the 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 claims. The natural person Defendants'
actions caused, were proximate causes of and/or were producing causes of the following damages
a past mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and caused
by Kelli's death;
a future mental anguish and ernotional distress suffered by thern resulting from and
caused Kelli's death;
a loss of companionship and society that they would have received from Kelli; and
. exemplary/punitivedamages.
100. Exemplary/punitive damages are appropriate in this case to deter and punish clear
and unabashed violation of Kelli's constitutional rights. The natural person Defendants' actions
and/or inaction showed a reckless or callous disregard of, or indifference to, Kelli's rights and
safety. In addition, all such damages resulted from the natural person Defendants choosing to
proceed with conscious indifference to and disregard of Kelli's rights, safety, or welfare after
having an actual subjective awareness of the risk involved but nevertheless proceeding with actions
resulting in her injuries and death. The natural person Defendants' actions, when viewed
objectively from their standpoint at the time of the acts and/or omissions involved, resulted in an
extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and magnitude of potential harm to Kelli.
Moreover, all Plaintiffs (and referenced heirs) seek from the natural person Defendant reasonable
and necessary attorneys' fees available pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $$ 1983 and 1988.
101. In the alternative, without waiving any of the other causes of action pled herein,
without waiving any procedural, contractual, statutory, or common-law right, and incorporating
all other allegations herein (including all factual allegations above) to the extent they are not
inconsistent with the cause of action pled here, Defendant Coryell County is liable to the Plaintiffs
and Kelli's heirs at law, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $ 1983, for violating Kelli's rights guaranteed by
the Fourth Amendment, as the Fourth Amendment has been incorporated to apply to the States
pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment or otherwise. Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey were at
all times referenced in this pleading acting in the course and scope oftheir duties of and for Coryell
County, and they were acting under color of state law. The County acted or failed to act under
I02. Coryell County's customs, practices, and/or policies caused, were proximate causes
of, and/or were producing causes of all damages referenced herein. The Coryell County Sheriff
was the chiefpolicymaker at all times relevant to this pleading, and he was the one that determined
the customs, practices, and policies referenced herein, or the County's chief policymaker had
delegated to the Coryell County Sheriff such chief policymaking authority. In the alternative,
regarding some or all policies referenced herein, the Coryell County Commissioner's Court was
the chief policym.aker for the County. Regardless, the Fifth Circuit has made it clear that Plaintiffs
need not identify the specific policymaker at this stage of the proceedings.
103. Plaintiffs incorporate all factual and Monell allegations above regarding the basis
for Coryell County's liability in this case. The County was deliberately indifferent to, and acted
customs, practices, and/or policies were moving forces behind and caused violations of Kelli's
constitutional rights and showed deliberate indifference to the known or obvious consequences of
constifutional violations. They also caused, were proximate causes of, and were producing causes
of all damages (and death) resulting from unconstitutional excessive force against and seizure of
Kelli.
104. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that using a state's
wrongful death and survival statutes creates an effective remedy for civil rights claims pursuant to
42 U.S.C. $ 1983. Therefore, Kelli's heirs-at-law, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar
Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
May Gruwell, and the Independent Administrators of the Estate of Kelly Leanne Page, seek all
remedies and damages available under Texas and federal law including but not necessarily limited
to the Texas wrongful death statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rern. Code $ 71.002 et seq.), the Texas
survival statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71.021), the Texas Constitution, common law,
and all related and/ or supporting case law. Therefore, Kelli' s estate and/or her heirs at law suffered
the following damages, for which they seek recovery from the County:
All such damages were caused and/or proximately caused by the County. If Kelli had lived, she
would have been entitled to bring a 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 action and obtain remedies and damages
105. Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Fairchild also seek all damages available to them
individually as a result of Kelli's wrongful death. Like all other damages alleged in this section
of this pleading, damages suffered by these people were caused and/or proximately caused by the
County and the County's policies, practices, and/or customs were moving forces behind and
caused such damages. Therefore, the County's actions, policies, practices, and customs caused,
were proximate causes of, were producing causes of, and were moving forces behind the following
damages suffered by these people, for which they individually seeks compensation:
a past mental angursh and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and caused
by Kelli's death;
future mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and
caused by Kelli's death; and
o loss of companionship and society that they would have received from Kelli.
Moreover, all Plaintiffs (and referenced heirs) seek from the County reasonable and necessary
D. Cause of Action Against Defendant Coryell County Under 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 for
Violation of 14ft Amendment Rights
106. In the alternative, without waiving any of the other causes of action pled herein,
without waiving any procedural, contractual, statutory, or common-law riglrt, and incorporating
all other allegations herein (including all factual allegations above) to the extent they are not
inconsistent with the cause of action pled here, Defendant Coryell County is liable to the Plaintiffs
and Kelli's heirs at law, pursuantto 42 U.S.C. $ 1983, for violating Kelli's rights guaranteed by
the Fourteenth Amendment. Defendants Lovelady and Pelfrey were at all times referenced in this
pleading acting in the course and scope of their duties of and for Coryell County, and they were
acting under color of state law. The County acted or failed to act under color of state law at all
relevant times.
107. Kelli was a pre-trial detainee, who had not been convicted, and thus was not
constitutionally allowed to be punished at all. Jailer Lovelady's and Jailer Pelfrey's actions
in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Defendants Lovelady
and Pelfrey violated clearly established constitutional rights, and their conduct constituted
108. Coryell County's customs, practices, and/or policies caused, were proximate causes
of, and/or were producing causes of all damages referenced herein. The Coryell County Sheriff
was the chief policymaker at all times relevant to this pleading, and he was the one that determined
the customs, practices, and policies referenced herein, or the County's chief policymaker had
delegated to the Coryell County Sheriff such chief policymaking authority. In the altemative,
regarding some or all policies referenced herein, the Coryell County Commissioner's Court was
the chief policymaker for the County. Regardless, the Fifth Circuit has made it clear that Plaintiffs
need not identify the specific policymaker at this stage of the proceedings.
109. Plaintiffs incorporate all factual and Monell allegations above regarding the basis
for Coryell County's liability in this case. The County was deliberately indifferent to, and acted
customs, practices, and/or policies were moving forces behind and caused violations of Kelli's
constitutional rights and showed deliberate indifference to the known or obvious consequences of
constitutional violations. They also caused, were proximate causes of, and were producing causes
of all damages (and death) resulting from unconstitutional excessive force against and seizure of
Kelli.
I 10. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that using a state's
wrongful death and survival statutes creates an effective remedy for civil rights claims pursuant to
42 U.S.C. $ 1983. Therefore, Kelli's heirs-at-law, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar
Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
May Gruwell, and the Independent Administrators of the Estate of Kelly Leanne Page, seek all
remedies and damages available under Texas and federal law including but not necessarily limited
to the Texas wrongful death statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71.002 et seq.), the Texas
survival statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code $ 71.021), the Texas Constitution, common law,
and all related and/or supporting case law. Therefore, Kelli's estate andlorherheirs at law suffered
the following damages, for which they seek recovery from the County:
All such damages were caused and/or proximately caused by the County. If Kelli had lived, she
would have been entitled to bring a 42 U.S.C. $ 1983 action and obtain remedies and damages
111. Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Fairchild also seek all damages available to them
individually as a result of Kelli's wrongful death. Like all other damages alleged in this section
of this pleading, damages suffered by these people were caused andlor proximately caused by the
County and the County's policies, practices, and/or customs were moving forces behind and
caused such damages. Therefore, the County's actions, policies, practices, and customs caused,
were proximate causes of, were producing causes of, and were moving forces behind the following
damages suffered by these people, for which they individually seeks compensation:
o past mental anguish and emotional distress suffered by them resulting from and caused
by Kelli's death;
a future mental anguish and ernotional distress suffered by them resulting from and
caused by Kelli's death; and
o loss of companionship and society that they would have received from Kelli.
Moreover, all Plaintiffs (and referenced heirs) seek from the County reasonable and necessary
Amendment Due
14th
ReasonablenessPurs,MnttoKinesleyv.Hendrickson
ll2. In Kingsley v. Hendricl<son, I35 S. Ct. 2466 (2015), a pretrial detainee sued several
jail officers alleging that they violated the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause by using
excessive force against him. Id. at 2470. The Court was determining the following issue:
"whether, to prove an excessive force claim, a pretrial detainee must show that the officers were
subjectively aware that their use of force was unreasonable, or only that the officer's use of that
force was objectively unreasonable." Id. (ernphasis in original). The United States Supreme Court
concluded that only the objectively unreasonable standard was the correct standard to be used in
excessive force cases, and that the officer's subjective awareness was irrelevartt. Id. The Court
did so, acknowledging and resolving disagreement among the Circuits. Id. at247I-72.
I13. The Court flatly wrote "the defendant's state of mind is not a matter that a plaintiff
is required to prove." Id. at 2472. Instead, "courts must use an objective standard." Id at 2472-
73. *[A] pretrial detainee must show only that the force purposefully or knowingly used against
him was objectively unreasonable." Id. at 2473. Thus, the Court required no mens rea, rto
conscious violation, and no subjective belief or understanding of the offending police officers for
an episodic claim but instead instructed all federal courts to analyze offrcers' conduct on an
objective reasonability basis. There is no reason to treat pretrial detainees' other rights arising
under the 14th Amendment's due process clause - such as the right to receive reasonable medical
care, the right to be protected from harm, and the right not to be punished - differently.
ll4. It appears that this standard is now the law of the land. In Alderson v. Concordia
Parish Corr. Facility,848 F.3d 415 (Sft Cir. 2017), the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals considered
appeal of apretrial detainee case in which the pretrial detainee alleged failure-to-protect and failure
to provide reasonable medical care claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. $ 1983. Id. at 418. The court
wrote, "Pretrial detainees are protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."
Id. at 419 (citation omitted). The Fifth Circuit determined, even though Kings leyhad been decided
by the United States Supreme Court, that a plaintiff in such a case still must show subjective
deliberate indifference by a defendant in an episodic act or omission case. Id. at419-20. A plaintiff
must still show that actions of such an individual person acting under color of state law were
"reckless." Id. at 420 (citation omitted). However, concurring Circuit Judge Graves dissented to
a footnote in which the majority refused to reconsider the deliberate indifference, subjective
115. The majority opinion gave only three reasons for the court's determination that the
law should not change in light of Kingsley. First, the panel was bound by the Fifth Circuit's "rule
of orderliness." Id. at420 n.4. Second, the Ninth Circuit was at that time the only circuit to have
Circuit Judge Graves wrote: I write separately because the Supreme Court's decision in Kingsley v. Hendricl<son,
U.S. 135 S.Ct.2466,l92L.Ed.2d 416 (2015), appears to call into question this court's holding in Hare
-v. City of-,Corinth, 74 F.3d 633 (5th Cir. 1996). In Kingsley, which was an excessive force case, the Supreme
Court indeed said: "Whether that standard might suffice for liability in the case of an alleged mistreatment of a
pretrial detainee need not be decided here; for the officers do not dispute that they acted purposefully or knowingly
with respect to the force they used against Kingsley." Kingsley, 135 S.Ct. at2472. However, that appears to be
an acknowledgment that, even in such a case, there is no established subjective standard as the majority
determined in Hare. Also, the analysis in Kingsley appears to support the conclusion that an objective standard
would apply in a failure-to-protect case. See id. at24722476.
We acknowledge that our view that an objective standard is appropriate in the context of
excessive force claims brought by pretrial detainees pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment
may raise questions about the use of a subjective standard in the context of excessive force
claims brought by convicted prisoners. We are not confronted with such a claim, however, so
we need not address that issue today.
Id. aI2476. This indicates that there are still different standards for pretrial detainees and DOC inmates, contrary
to at least some of the language inHare,74F.3d at 650, and that, if the standards were to be commingled, it
would be toward an objective standard as to both on at least some claims.
Further, the Ninth Circuit granted en banc rehearing in Castro v. County of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060 (9th Cir.
2016), after a partially dissenting panel judge wrote separately to point out that Kingsley "calls into question our
precedent on the appropriate state-of-mind inquiry in failure-to-protect claims brought by pretrial detainees."
Castrov.CountyofLosAngeles,797F.3d654,677 (9thCir.2015). TheenbanccourtconcludedthalKingsley
applies to failure-to-protect claims and that an objective standard is appropriate. Castro,833 F.3d at 1068-1073.
In Estqte of Henson v. Wichita County,795 F.3d 456 (5th Cir.2014), decided just one month after Kingsley,this
court did not address any application of Kingsley. Likewise, the two subsequent cases also cited by the majority
didnotaddressordistinguishKingsley. Hyattv.Thomas,843F.3dl72(sthck.2016),andZimmermanv.Cutler,
657 Fed.Appx. 340 (5th Cir. 2016). Because I read Kingsley as the Ninth Circuit did and would revisit the
deliberate indifference standard, I write separately.
extended Kingsley's objective standard to failure-to-protect claims. Id. Third, the Fifth Circuit
refused to reconsider the law of the Circuit in light of United State Supreme Court precedent,
because it would not have changed the results in Alderson. Id. Even so, the Fifth Circuit noted,
over twenty years ago, that the analysis in pretrial detainee provision of medical care cases is the
same as that for pretrial detainee failure-to-protect cases. Hare v. City of Cortnth, 74 F.3d 633,
116. Thus, the trail leads to only one place - an objective unreasonableness standard,
with no regard for officers' subjective belief or understanding, should apply in this case and all
pretrial detainee cases arising under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. Thus, aside
from the fact that an objective unreasonableness standard clearly applies to the Fourth Amendment
excessive force claims set forth above, an objective unreasonableness standard, instead of a
deliberate indifference standard, should apply to the Fourteenth Amendment oopunishment" claims
set forth above. The Fifth Circuit, and the district court in this case, should reassess Fifth Circuit
law in light of Kingsley and apply an objective unreasonableness standard to such claims (instead
of a subjective state of mind and/or deliberate indifference standard). The Supreme Court
discarded the idea that such a burden should be placed upon a plaintiff.
IV. ConcludingAllegations
A. Conditions Precedent
ll7. All conditions precedent to assertion of the Plaintiffs' claims have occurred.
B. Use of Documents
118. The Plaintiffs intend to use at one or more pretrial proceedings, in motion practice,
and/or at trial all documents produced by the Defendants in this case in response to written
discovery requests.
C. JuryDemand
119. The Plaintiffs demand a jury trial on all issues which may be tried to a jury.
D Prayer
120. For these reasons, the Plaintiffs ask that the Defendants be cited to appear and
answer, and that the Plaintiffs (and Kelli's heirs at law, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild,
Cesar Tamala Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and
Tiffany May Gruwell) have judgment for damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court and
against all Defendants, jointly and severally, as legally applicable, for including but not necessarily
limited to:
a) actual damages of and for Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Fairchild, individually,
including but not necessarily limited to;
b) actual damages of and for the heirs of Kelli Leanne Page through the
including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar Tamala Lactod, III, Angie
Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany May
Kelli, including Mr. Fairchild, Ms. Fairchild, Cesar Tamala Lactod, III,
Angre Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild, and Tiffany
d) reasonable and necessary attorneys' fees for all Plaintiffs (including all heirs
Lactod, III, Angie Fairchild, Maile Sue Fairchild, Patrick Sterling Fairchild,
and Tiffany May Gruwell) through trial and any appeals and other appellate
s) all other relief, legal and equitable, general and special, to which the
Respectfully submitted,
Of Counsel:
Michael T. O'Connor
Texas State Bar No.24032922
Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C.
900 Jackson Street
Suite 730
Dallas, Texas 75202
Telephone: Ql$670-9989
Telefax: (214) 670-9904
michael. oconnor@deanmalone. com
purposeofinitiatingthecivildocketsheet. (SbEZVSTRUCTI2NSoNNWTqAGEoFTHISF)RM.)
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(For Diversity Cases and One Boxfor Defenclant)
DI U.S.Govement if 3 Fedeml Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.5. Government Not a Party) CitizsnofThisState O I O I IncorpomtedorPrincipalPlace A4 J4
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CitizenorSubjectofa O3 D 3 ForcignNation a6 a6
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