The parents of Christopher Jones have settled their Maryland wrongful death case with five of the six teenagers accused of involvement in his fatal assault. Jones, 14, died in May 2009 when he was beaten while riding his bike in Crofton. Two teens pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the deadly beating while several others who allegedly involved were not criminally charged because they did not actually hit Jones.
Although the terms of the Anne Arundel County wrongful death settlement are confidential, what is known is that one of the teen defendants in the civil case, Eric Ali, was asked to hand over his new sneakers as part of the agreement. Ali was among those who were never criminally charged in the case. However, according to the Baltimore Sun, Jones’ mother Jennifer Adkins says that she wanted Ali to say that she’d taken the shoes from his feet.
One of the teens who did plead guilty, Javel George, was not a defendant in the civil lawsuit. The Jones family’s attorney said it was unlikely they would have been able to ever get anything from George, who has no assets.
Jones was discovered on the roadway following the assault. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Autopsy results showed that the teenager died of neck and head injuries. The tragic incident was believed to have been gang-related.
Maryland Wrongful Death
A Maryland wrongful death complaint can allow you to obtain civil damages from the person or entity responsible for your loved one’s fatal accident. This case is separate from any criminal proceedings. This means that even if your loved one isn’t charged in criminal court you may be able to sue them for wrongful death or personal injury.
Shoes are unusual part of settlement in Crofton teen’s death, Baltimore Sun, April 28, 2011
Vigil Held for Murdered Crofton Teen, MyFoxDC, June 2, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death, Nolo
Summary of State Wrongful Death and Intestacy Statutes (PDF)