MEIGS COUNTY — Federal Judge Clifton Corker ruled to allow portions of a wrongful death lawsuit to proceed against Meigs County and the estate of Deputy Robert J. Leonard. The judge declined to dismiss the estate of the deputy as a defendant in the case concerning the death of Tabatha Marie Smith.

Judge Clifton Corker also declined to dismiss County as a defendant in the lawsuit. The court dismissed allegations against the county relating to assault and battery, as well as claims regarding intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The children of Tabatha Marie Smith filed the lawsuit in Federal Court. Smith died in February 2024 after drowning in the back seat of a County patrol cruiser.

Robert J. Leonard was driving the patrol cruiser at the time of the incident. Leonard was a new deputy when he placed Smith in the patrol car after investigating a disturbance.

Leonard drove the patrol car into a river. The body of the deputy was found in the river outside the vehicle. Smith was found in the back seat of the vehicle and was handcuffed when her body was recovered.

Robert J. Leonard was texting his wife and a friend just prior to entering the river. Attorney Neal Pinkston is serving as guardian ad litem for the estate of Robert J. Leonard.

Attorney Robin Flores pointed to conditions on the road where the incident occurred. "There were warning signs that the narrow road ended at the river," Flores said. Flores also stated there were rumble strips on the road.

The ruling determines which parties will face legal scrutiny over the 2024 incident that resulted in the deaths of both a civilian detainee and a law enforcement officer. By allowing the case to proceed against the deputy's estate and the county, the court has opened the path for further litigation regarding the circumstances of the patrol car entering the river.