Hall of Fame WWE wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler is suing a Tennessee sheriff’s department for $3 million after the death of his son.
Jerry’s son, Brian Christopher Lawler, was also a wrestler for the WWE. He was arrested on July 7, 2018 for driving under the influence and evading arrest, TMZ reported.
Police noticed him driving recklessly at around 1 a.m. that morning. However, Brian didn’t stop when police initially attempted to pull him over. Once he did stop, he smelled of alcohol, and he had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
Today was a very tough day. It’s been exactly one year since my son Brian Christopher died. I want to thank everyone who thought about Brian today. We’ll never forget you, Brian. pic.twitter.com/eGHQnzzAuW
— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) July 30, 2019
Brian Christopher Lawler’s bail was set at $40,000, but his father did not bail him out. Jerry Lawler says he was under the belief, after speaking with the sheriff, that his son would be properly taken care of and treated for his substance abuse issues, according to a recent TMZ report.
In his lawsuit, Jerry claims that his son received no such care, and that the jail was not properly equipped to deal with a suicide attempt, TMZ reported.
His lawyer, Jeffrey Rosenblum, said that Brian was attacked by another inmate in jail, resulting in a head injury, eye gash, and a possible concussion. Rosenblum said that jail personnel did not provide Brian any medical treatment.
Rosenblum also said that even at the time of the 2018 arrest, Brian told officers he had attempted suicide in 2013 and 2015.
Brian was placed in solitary confinement. His shoes and shoelaces were not taken away, and a large bolt was sticking out of the wall. Brian used the bolts and shoelaces to hang himself, Rosenblum told TMZ.
Rosenblum said jail personnel ignored all pleas by Brian to get medical help.
Jerry Lawler files lawsuit in death of son Brian Lawler in Hardeman County jail last year https://t.co/DjEEmRKkii
— WWLP-22News (@WWLP22News) July 29, 2019
Jerry also states in the lawsuit that a prison officer walked past Brian after his suicide attempt and ignored him on his way to take out the garbage. He also said that only on the way back from garbage duties did the officer realize something was wrong.
Jerry said if the officer checked on him earlier Brian would be alive. The father also said in the lawsuit the jail was only equipped with children’s scissors to cut the string, TMZ reported.
On July 29, 2018, TMZ reported that Brian died after being taken off life support after the suicide attempt. Brian was 46 years old.
BREAKING: Jerry Lawler, the father of former professional wrestler Brian Lawler, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hardeman County, Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen and others.https://t.co/CMcRdnkyr5
— Commercial Appeal (@memphisnews) July 29, 2019
Rosenblum told TMZ that the money will go towards Brian’s son. The family is also seeking an official apology from the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Dept.
Brian Christopher Lawler is known for his time wrestling in the WWE/WWF as part of the group “Too Cool.”
Jerry Lawler is reported as saying on his podcast “Dinner With The King” last year that he’s not 100 percent sure that his son died as a result of suicide.
“I know everything that was reported said Brian committed suicide by hanging himself. Now since that time, at least I’m certain — in a lot of people’s minds and certainly in mine — we have serious doubts if that actually happened,” he said on the podcast, according to Wrestling Inc.
The latest TMZ report does not mention if Jerry Lawler still holds doubts about the death being a suicide.