Meigs County officials deny any wrongdoing in response to a $100 million federal lawsuit over the drowning of a woman handcuffed in a patrol car.
The nine-count federal lawsuit was filed against Meigs County and the estate of the deputy who drove his patrol car into the Tennessee River on Feb. 14, 2024, with Tabitha Marie Smith, 35, in the back seat.
Smith’s family contends her Fourth and 14th Amendment rights were violated while she was in the custody of Meigs County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert John “R.J.” Leonard, also 35, when the two drowned in the night-darkened water at the end of Blythe Ferry Lane, according to documents filed with the U.S. District Court in Chattanooga. The family is also suing under Tennessee law alleging wrongful death, battery and assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence and loss of consortium.
In the response, Meigs County and Leonard’s estate deny Smith was mistreated, contend Leonard was authorized to exceed speed limits as he responded to the call and provide an alternative description of phone texts sent in the last minutes of Smith and Leonard’s lives. The defendants maintain Smith was lawfully arrested and detained while in Leonard’s custody.
The defendants also challenge the accuracy of phone and GPS data on Leonard’s cell phone related to the phone texts he sent, “which could delay the times of when the text was sent and/or received,” and otherwise deny he was texting while driving, the answer states. A Faceboook Messenger message sent from another deputy to Leonard was admitted in the answer, but not that Leonard answered or read it while driving.
In answer to the suit’s claim that Smith, who grew up in the area, knew Blythe Ferry Lane and that the patrol car was headed toward the river, the county contends that Smith, with about 25 arrests in Meigs County, “most likely would know where the jail was located, however, Smith was under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana at the time of her death, which would or could influence her actions, demeanor and affect.”
The defendants deny Leonard lacked training, disregarded rumble strips on Blythe Ferry Lane warning of the approaching boat ramp or that Smith endured “‘unimaginable terror in that she knew what she was about to suffer,” as alleged by the plaintiffs.
The county and Leonard were responsible for Smith’s safety while arresting and transporting her to jail, the answer admits, but otherwise, the defendants deny his actions led to Smith’s death.
Chattanooga attorneys Robin Flores and Neil Thomas filed the new complaint Jan. 17 on behalf of Smith’s son, Nathan Alexander Smith. Troy, Michigan, attorney Alyson Oliver and Chattanooga attorney Jeffery Rufolo represent Smith’s three minor children.
Leonard’s estate is represented by Chattanooga attorney Brian Hoss, and Meigs County is represented by Chattanooga attorneys David Ward and Alix Michel. The suit previously sought $10 million.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569 .
Office of District Attorney Russell Johnson / Meigs County Deputy Robert John “R.J.” Leonard is seen in a police academy graduation photo, left, and Tabatha Smith is seen in a social media photo. Meigs County government lawyers have answered federal lawsuit filed over the drowning of a woman who was in handcuffed in the backseat of a patrol car when a Meigs County sheriff’s deputy inadvertently drove it into the Tennessee River at the Blythe Ferry boat ramp Feb. 14, 2024.