Press Release: Federal Court Denies Defendants’ Motions in Harrison County Jail Death Lawsuit – Case Proceeds to Trial

Federal Court Denies Defendants’ Motions in Harrison County Jail Death Lawsuit – Case Proceeds to Trial

For Immediate Release

Marshall, Texas – 12/23/2025 — 41-year-old Lonnetta Johnson had significant mental health issues. Her mental health issues, as well as medical issues requiring appropriate medication and treatment, were well-known to the Harrison County jail.

Ms. Johnson was arrested and jailed in the Harrison County jail on December 30, 2021, just a few hours after being previously released. She was arrested on low-level offenses, and there was no doubt that her serious mental health issues affected her ability to live a normal life. Regardless, instead of being taken to the nearest in-patient mental health facility, Harrison County chose to jail her for approximately two weeks. That two-week period concluded with Ms. Johnson’s death.

Witnesses at the jail indicate that Ms. Johnson was unclothed, sitting on a cold cell floor, in the same position, for hours. One witness had the opinion that the temperature in the cell was close to 60 degrees. When someone finally entered the cell to check on Ms. Johnson, it was too late. She was transported to a local hospital, and her body temperature was only 90.1 degrees.

Constitutional rights lawyer Dean Malone represents family members and filed a federal lawsuit in federal court in Marshall. The parties in the case litigated for nearly three years, and Defendants filed summary judgment motions seeking to have a judgment in their favor and avoid having to face a jury. The federal court denied both motions in December 2025. The case will now proceed to a jury trial March 2, 2026.

Mr. Malone said, “It is common for defendants in jail death cases to seek to avoid a jury trial, whether through filing motions to dismiss the case or, as occurred here, motions for summary judgment. We have a well-qualified team devoted to addressing these types of motions, and they did an admirable job for Lonnetta’s family. We look forward to presenting to jurors Lonnetta’s tragic suffering and death and seeking justice under the law.”

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.