The judge in a $100 million civil rights lawsuit against Meigs County and the estate of a deceased deputy has denied a dismissal motion by the deputy’s estate while dismissing four claims against the county.
The suit stems from the Feb. 14, 2024, drownings of Tabitha Marie Smith and Meigs County sheriff’s deputy Robert John “R.J.” Leonard, a father of three who was driving the patrol car when it plunged into the Tennessee River at the end of Blythe Ferry Lane with Smith handcuffed in the back seat. They were both 35.
In his ruling on the nine-count civil rights suit originally filed in February 2025, U.S. District Judge Clifton L. Corker denied the Leonard estate’s motion for dismissal while granting Meigs County’s motion to dismiss Count 1, related to a punitive damages claim under the 14th Amendment, Count 4, related to an assault and battery claim under Tennessee law, and Count 5, related to an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim under Tennessee law.
Corker denied the county’s motion to dismiss the remaining counts.
The Leonard estate’s answer to the suit was filed Monday, while Meigs County still has until Aug. 7 to file an answer to the same allegations, minus the three dismissed counts.