Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. in the News

Texas Attorney General Limits Independent Investigations of Jail Deaths — Dean Malone Responds
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion finding that county jails are required to seek independent investigations of inmate deaths only if the death occurs within the physical confines of the jail — meaning deaths that happen shortly after transport to a hospital or ambulance may not trigger that outside scrutiny under state statute. The opinion interprets the phrase “death of a prisoner in a county jail” narrowly, a shift with major implications for transparency and accountability in custodial deaths across the state.

Dean Malone criticized the decision as unfortunate and problematic, warning it creates a loophole that allows counties to avoid independent investigations simply by moving a dying prisoner off jail property. He explained that counties could now transport seriously ill detainees offsite before death to circumvent independent review — a tactic his firm has repeatedly seen in wrongful-death and jail-neglect cases. Malone emphasized that this interpretation undermines accountability and state reporting efforts, and urged legislative or regulatory action to fix the law so that all custodial deaths receive meaningful outside investigation.

A federal judge has allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against El Paso County to move forward, denying the county’s request to dismiss or delay claims arising from the 2023 death of Jesus Torres inside the El Paso County Jail. Torres, 57, was allegedly beaten to death by six other inmates in an assault captured on jail surveillance video, yet no staff intervened and his body reportedly remained undiscovered for hours.

Represented by constitutional rights attorney Dean Malone, Torres’ family alleges systemic failures in inmate supervision and welfare checks. Following the incident, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found the jail out of compliance. Malone called the death “a travesty and easily preventable,” stating the family is relieved the case will proceed as they seek accountability for the jail’s failures.

The Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against DeWitt County, alleging that 34-year-old Trey Kaiser died in April 2024 after being denied medical care while showing obvious signs of drug withdrawal. Despite deputies’ initial decision to take him to a hospital, staff never allowed him out of the patrol car, and he was instead booked directly into jail. Over the weekend, jailers noted Kaiser’s deteriorating condition but failed to seek medical attention until he was found unresponsive on Sunday. The facility reportedly had no nurse on duty that weekend.

Attorney Dean Malone called the death “inexcusable,” emphasizing the urgent need for Texas jails to take inmate medical crises seriously and ensure proper healthcare oversight.  Here is a link to another news story about the lawsuit – https://victoriaadvocate.com/2025/12/06/family-files-federal-suit-against-dewitt-county-after-man-dies-in-jail/

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Officials initially suggested that Andra Lamont Adkins, 50, died by suicide at the Dallas County Jail in March 2025, but the medical examiner’s office declined to conduct an autopsy, citing pre-existing health conditions. Adkins, who had kidney failure and a dialysis port, died after being rushed to Parkland Hospital covered in blood. His family disputes that his death was intentional, suggesting it may have been accidental.

Dallas civil rights attorney Dean Malone said the lack of an autopsy undermines public accountability and transparency in jail death investigations. “That report is meant to notify the public about what happened behind closed doors,” he said. “When a person with multiple health issues dies, that’s precisely when an autopsy is critical.” Malone, who represents families in similar Texas jail death cases, emphasized the need for independent investigations to ensure full transparency and justice for those who die in custody.