Estate of Casey Goodson, Jr. Files Motion to Lift Stay of Civil Rights Suit
New image released in murder of Casey by Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade
The Estate of Casey Goodson, Jr. has filed a motion to lift the stay of the proceedings in the civil rights lawsuit filed against Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade and Franklin County, Ohio so that the lawsuit may proceed without further delay. On December 2, 2021, the same day Meade was indicted for the murder of Casey, Casey’s family filed the lawsuit for unconstitutional seizure, wrongful death, assault and battery, negligence, and survivorship, as well as a Monell policy claim. The Monell claim is of exceptional public importance, highlighting the patterns and practices of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office that led to Casey’s murder.
Despite the overwhelming evidence that led to the criminal indictments against Meade, Franklin County officials have yet to respond to the lawsuit. Instead, they requested and have been granted a total stay of the proceedings, barring Casey’s family from seeking justice and delaying this civil matter until the conclusion of Meade’s criminal trial.
The inaction, lack of urgency, and dereliction of duty exhibited by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and Franklin County Board of Commissioners led to this motion being filed today.
“The public and Casey’s family deserve to see those who violated Casey’s rights held to account, and also in preventing the continuation of patterns of dangerous misconduct in the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office that put all people of Franklin County at risk. Franklin County has successfully hid behind the prosecution of Meade for ten months. We are asking the Court to allow this case to move forward now without subjecting Casey’s family to further pain and delay.”
“We already knew that Casey was an innocent victim who Jason Meade hunted and executed,” says Sean Walton, partner at Walton + Brown, LLP and attorney for the family. “Casey was living his life as any other law-abiding citizen that day, and in addition to being shot six times from behind, he was likely gunned down with earbuds in his ears. Meade bragged about hunting and beating Franklin County citizens. The Franklin Board of Commissioners has acknowledged racism as a public health crisis but has done nothing to show that they are committed to investigating serious misconduct within their control. The Board is now impeding our investigation and causing continued pain and suffering to this family.”
Casey’s family and legal team are calling on the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office to withdraw their request for a stay of the civil proceedings, and to publicly declare their intent to continue to defend Jason Meade and Franklin County in the face of uncontroverted evidence of murder and a pattern of behavior within the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. They are also calling on the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to work with Casey’s family on a resolution that allows for substantive policy change and reform that enables the family and citizens of Franklin County to heal and move forward together.
Justice delayed is justice denied, and 643 days after Jason Meade murdered Casey Goodson, Jr., it is beyond time for Franklin County officials to stand with the people and stop protecting a murderer.