Lawler Lawsuit Ends

A six-year-old legal dispute ended as all claims in the Lawler v Hardeman County lawsuit were dismissed by the court.

In July 2018, A Hardeman County Deputy arrested Brian Christopher, the son of World Wrestling Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler, for Driving Under the Influence. While in jail, Christopher passed away, which was ruled a suicide. His father sued Hardeman County and Sheriff John Doolen, Leonard Brown, Judy Wiggins, Ellen Futrell, and William Gonzalez.

While Doolen and Brown were dismissed from the suit in September 2022, Hardeman County, Wiggins, Futrell, and Gonzalez were denied the motion for summary judgment in the case. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Court reversed as to the three.

In light of the Sixth Circuit’s ruling, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson reconsidered his ruling related to Lawler’s related claims against the county and granted the county’s motion for summary judgment. As a result, all claims brought by Lawler related to his son’s death in the Hardeman County Jail have been dismissed by the court.