DiCello Levitt, Ben Crump Receive Approval to Proceed With Claims of Excessive Force, Failure to Intervene
BIRMINGHAM, December 5, 2024—The wrongful death lawsuit in the case of former NFL lineman Glenn Foster Jr., who died brutally while in custody in west Alabama, can move forward under the claims of excessive force and failure to intervene, a judge with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ruled today. Read the full opinion.
The lawsuit alleges that Pickens County law enforcement excessively assaulted, battered, strangled, and ultimately killed Mr. Foster, the father of four young children, while denying him access to medical treatment.
“Mr. Foster’s death was barbaric. He was stripped naked, tased repeatedly, choked to the point of unconsciousness, and denied access to medical treatment,” said DiCello Levitt Partner Ken Abbarno, who along with DiCello Levitt Partner Diandra “Fu” Debrosse and co-counsel Ben Crump represents the family of Mr. Foster. “Today’s ruling allows us to continue our fight to show Mr. Foster died as a direct result of law enforcement’s excessive use of force and failure to intervene.”
“Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of Mr. Foster’s senseless death in police custody. With today’s decision, we continue to honor his memory by fighting vigorously for justice—for him and his family,” Debrosse said.
On December 3, 2021, during a traffic stop for alleged reckless driving, Pickens County police wrestled the former NFL player to the ground, slamming his head into the concrete.
Following Foster’s arrest, the defendants tortured him for more than 24 hours while he was in the custody of the Pickens County Jail. On December 6, 2021, Mr. Foster was scheduled to undergo an urgent medical evaluation. In conjunction with taking him to that evaluation, the defendants violently forced Mr. Foster into a police transport vehicle, causing him to sustain neck injuries that later contributed to his untimely death.
The lawsuit is Anny Pamela Foster v. Pickens County, et al. Case No. 7:23-cv-01647-ACA (N.D. Ala.). A copy of the complaint is available on request.
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