Judge dismisses wrongful death case
Published 4:18 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A federal judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Carroll County in 2006 by the estate of a woman who died in the back of a sheriff’s deputy’s squad car.
The family of Debbie Loggins had sought $10 million from the county.
U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled this past week that Loggins’ death did not result from force used by three deputies when they arrested her Sept. 17, 2005.
A $15 million lawsuit against the deputies — Michael Spellman, Charles Jones and David Mims — was dismissed in December 2006.
“She died, and it was unfortunate, absolutely tragic, that one would pass away, but it had little to do with the actions of the officers,” said Michael Wolf, a Jackson attorney who represented Carroll County and the deputies.
Loggins, 33, of North Carrollton, had been charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She was unconscious when she arrived at a private prison in Grenada, authorities said.
Deputies had arrested Loggins, the mother of six, after responding to a report of two women fighting. Two hours later, Loggins was dead.
Authorities said an autopsy showed no signs or evidence of trauma.