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Hawley Wants Claims of Civil Rights Violations Against State in DeBrodie Lawsuit Dismissed

The state’s top law enforcement official has requested the claims of civil rights violations against the state and five state employees related to Carl DeBrodie’s death be dismissed, according to court filings.

DeBrodie, who was mentally disabled, was found dead in a Fulton storage shed, encased in concrete, after he had a seizure and was left to die in a bathtub, according to court documents. Two officials who were required to make face-to-face visits filed false reports about making contact with DeBrodie after his death.

Attorney General Josh Hawley submitted a motion Tuesday to dismiss the claims against the Department of Mental Health and employees who oversaw its division of developmental disabilities. DeBrodie’s mother, Carolyn Summers, and sister-in-law, Carol Samson, had no standing to sue the state, Hawley argued.

 
 
“Even if true, (their) allegations are not adequate to establish that the State Defendants have violated Mr. DeBrodie’s constitutional rights because they do not show a causal connection between their alleged conduct and Mr. DeBrodie’s death and, even if such a connection were shown, the alleged conduct is not egregious, outrageous, or shocking to the conscience,” the court document reads, referring to an earlier case that found official misconduct must be “shocking to the contemporary conscience” to be considered a constitutional violation.

To view the whole story, go tocolumbiamissourian.com.