In 2015, the parents of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against officials, schoolmates, and an FBI agent, after their son was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat.
Although a state autopsy ruled the death as an accident caused by “positional asphyxia,” his parents believed he was killed. Upon further investigation, after hiring a forensic pathologist to investigate Johnson’s death, it was then ruled a homicide with evidence of “unexplained, apparent nonaccidental blunt force trauma.”
Now, more than four years after Johnson’s death, the wrongful death lawsuit has been dismissed. Back in March of 2016, a motion to dismiss was filed as the Department of Justice continued their investigation, ultimately resulting in a declination to file charges. Months later, the parents refiled their suit, naming state and local officials, Johnson’s classmates Brandon Bell, Brian Bell and their dad, FBI Special Agent Rick Bell.
In light of the new dismissal, the Bell’s maintain their innocence, revealing that they are pleased that the case was dismissed once again.
“We’re pleased to see the case dismissed once again. The case was meritless from the beginning and has now been dismissed twice,” the Bell family said in a statement. “The only thing remaining is for the Superior Court of Lowndes County to make an award of attorney’s fees in favor of the defendants.”
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