FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 20, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, IL – On January 19, 2023, Attorneys Bob Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP, Corpus Christi, TX, and Ben Crump, stood alongside Earl Moore Jr.’s family, as they announced the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit, naming Paramedics Peggy Finley and Peter Cadigan, along with LifeStar Ambulance Service.
Earl Moore, Jr. tragically died from asphyxiation on December (date) after being strapped to a gurney, face down, by EMS workers.
Mr. Moore had been suffering from a medical emergency when police officers responded to a call. Body camera footage provided by the Springfield Police Department shows the law enforcement officers being cooperative and compassionate, calling for an ambulance to assist Mr. Moore in getting medical care. The footage also shows the EMS workers, Peggy Finley and Peter Cadigan arriving.
“I’ve been representing folks who have been injured or seeking justice for over 40 years. And I thought I’d seen the worst of the underbelly of humanity in many of the cases that I’ve been involved in. But in this case, with this body cam video, I was speechless.” said Bob Hilliard.
The video shows that law enforcement responded, and body cam captured the timeline of events. Earl was prone on the bed and then on the ground. He was barely responsive – not aggressive, but clearly in medical distress. A paramedic entered the room where Earl was lying down. And as the video shows, when the first paramedic enters the room, she was extremely aggressive and extremely agitated. At no point did either paramedic attempt to medically evaluate the situation.
Once the law enforcement officers were able to assist Mr. Moore outside to the gurney, and the EMS workers took over, Moore was lifted up, put face down on the gurney, and strapped down with his arms behind his back. Moore died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Earl Moore Jr.’s death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.
“Whether you put a knee on a man’s neck for eight minutes or you place him face down on a gurney and you strap him in as tight as you can, both will die from asphyxiation, and both will die filled with terror, because asphyxiation is a – it’s like being buried alive. It’s a slow, terrifying sense of not being able to breathe,” said Hilliard, “and Earl did not deserve that.”
Hilliard and Crump are committed to walking alongside Earl’s family and fighting for justice on Earl’s behalf.
“Because,” as Hilliard commented to NPR’s A Martinez, “it’s not just about the criminal case. This is about full justice for these nice grieving folks.”
The family of Earl Moore, Jr. wants to be sure that this doesn’t happen to another innocent person. Their hope is that, nationwide, every company takes a second look at their training, their policies, and their retention of employees that should not be in this profession.
SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW
MEDIA CONTACT: Elisabeth Tabor – (361) 882-1612 or email: media@hmglawfirm.com
ABOUT HILLIARD MARTINEZ GONZALES LLP (HMG)
Bob Hilliard has led HMG to the forefront of national trial law firms. Having tried over 100 jury rials, Mr. Hilliard is a two-time winner of the National Law Journal’s prestigious Elite Trial Lawyer of the Year award, as well as being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the past 18 years. Mr. Hilliard is double board certified and recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. In the past six months, HMG’s 40-lawyer firm has already secured over 100 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. For more information visit https://www.hmglawfirm.com.
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit https://www.bencrump.com.