Jail Death Attorneys: Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C.

Law Offices of Dean Malone is dedicated to providing expert legal representation to families of jail detainees who died from jail neglect. Our experienced team is committed to seeking justice and fair compensation, with a strong focus on advocating for the rights of those neglected or injured.

As a leading jail death attorney, Dean Malone and his team have a proven track record of understanding the complexities of these cases and successfully holding responsible parties accountable for their actions. Whether it's inadequate medical care, attacks by other jail inmates, suicide, or intentional mistreatment by jailers or jail medical staff, we are relentless in our pursuit of justice for our clients.

At Law Offices of Dean Malone, we don't just prioritize personalized attention and open communication with our clients; we embody it. We recognize that every case is unique, and we adapt our approach to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual we represent. Our unwavering dedication to our clients has earned us a reputation for excellence and integrity in the legal community, but it's also a testament to our commitment to your case.

In The News

Neither Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. nor its employees or agents affirms the accuracy of any information in the following news reports. Links are provided only for convenience.

Second Jailer in Our Firm’s Tarrant County Case Resolves Criminal Charges

A second former Tarrant County jailer has been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution after admitting to falsifying cell checks in the 2020 death of Javonte Myers, who died from a seizure disorder while in custody. Civil rights attorney Dean Malone, who represented Myers’ mother in her federal lawsuit, noted that criminal prosecutions of jailers are rare but necessary to highlight accountability within Texas jail systems.

While the county settled the Myers case in 2023 for $1 million, Malone emphasized that systemic change requires leadership accountability, not just the punishment of low-level employees. He continues to represent families in multiple Tarrant County jail death cases, including that of Georgia Kay Baldwin, underscoring ongoing concerns about neglect, understaffing, and inadequate mental health care in county jails.

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Jail Neglect Attorney Dean Malone Quoted in Article About Mental Health Issues in Jails

Dallas civil rights attorney Dean Malone was quoted in a KERA News report examining mental health care in Texas jails and a $30 million state grant to expand competency restoration services. Malone represented the family of Georgia Baldwin, who died in the Tarrant County Jail in 2021 while waiting for mental health treatment.

Malone said jails have an obligation to ensure that individuals with severe mental illness receive proper care, including monitoring of basic needs like eating and drinking. He emphasized that incarceration is often an inappropriate setting for people experiencing serious mental health crises — a failure that continues to highlight systemic issues across Texas jails.

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New Media Coverage of Our Law Firm’s Third Water Intoxication Jail Death Case Against Dallas County

The Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. represents the family of Spencer Swearnger, a 52-year-old man who died from water intoxication while in custody at the Dallas County Jail in 2023. The civil rights lawsuit claims the county failed to implement safety measures or provide proper supervision, despite knowing of previous jail deaths caused by excessive water intake among mentally ill detainees.

Attorney Dean Malone stated that this marks the third Dallas County jail death lawsuit involving water intoxication since 2020, underscoring an ongoing lack of training and policy reform. He emphasized that the jail should have taken basic precautions, such as water shut-off valves and closer observation for at-risk inmates, to prevent another avoidable tragedy.

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Federal Court Denies Turn Key Health Request to Dismiss Claims in Jail Death Lawsuit

A federal court has denied Turn Key Health’s request to dismiss claims in a lawsuit over the death of 24-year-old D’Vonte Valentine, who died in the Smith County Jail after allegedly being denied essential medication. Valentine suffered from a rare condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which required daily steroid treatment. According to the lawsuit, jail medical staff placed his medication in a property locker instead of administering it, leading to his rapid decline and death within two weeks of incarceration.

Civil rights attorney Dean Malone, representing Valentine’s family, said, “Instead of someone contacting the pharmacy or a doctor about the steroids, the steroids went into a locker with his other property, and he lasted just a matter of days.” The court ruled that the allegations, if proven, indicate that Turn Key Health violated Valentine’s constitutional rights as a pretrial detainee. The case will now proceed to trial, seeking accountability for alleged medical neglect in Texas jails.

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Law Offices of Dean Malone and others File Briefs Opposing Tarrant County’s Bizarre Interpretation of Texas Jail Death Investigation Law

The Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. joined Texas A&M law professors and multiple advocacy groups in filing briefs opposing the Tarrant County District Attorney’s interpretation of Texas’ jail death investigation law. The DA’s office requested the Texas Attorney General determine whether independent investigations are only required for deaths occurring inside jail walls — not those happening in hospitals or other facilities while detainees remain in custody. Critics say this interpretation would “gut” the Sandra Bland Act, which mandates independent investigations into all jail custody deaths.

Attorney Dean Malone, who represents families in Texas jail death cases, called the request an effort to “avoid accountability” and warned it would allow counties to escape oversight. The filings emphasize that detainees remain under jail custody even when hospitalized and that limiting investigations would conceal preventable neglect or abuse. Advocates, civil rights organizations, and faith groups urged the Attorney General to uphold full transparency and accountability in all Texas jail death cases.

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Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Atascosa County for Jail Death from Multiple Untreated Seizures

The family of Nancy Lopez, who died after suffering multiple seizures while in custody at the Atascosa County Jail, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county. The lawsuit claims Lopez was visibly disoriented and shaking uncontrollably during intake on May 2, 2023, yet jail staff failed to call EMS even after she experienced repeated seizures. Emergency medical help was reportedly summoned only after a nurse arrived and found her unresponsive.

Attorney Dean Malone, who represents the Lopez family, said the case highlights a grave failure to provide medical care to detainees in crisis. “It is beyond me to understand why Nancy was allowed to suffer several seizures without anyone calling EMS,” Malone stated. “There is no excuse for not taking a person suffering a medical emergency to the nearest hospital.” The family is seeking justice and accountability for Lopez’s preventable death under federal law.

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