The family of a man killed during a police pursuit last August is suing two Rankin County cities, claiming their officers’ reckless behavior led to the man’s death.

The amended complaint, filed June 26 by Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. Personal Injury Attorney, Ray L. Gustavis,  claims the pursuit violated state law, and the actions of those officers and the suspect they were chasing led to the death of 47-year-old Steven Pearson.

The chase, which began in Pearl, began when police attempted to stop Ryan Irwin for a tint violation.

Irwin sped off, officers chased him into Flowood and, after a second failed attempt to get him to stop, Flowood police joined in the pursuit.

Ray L. Gustavis, attorney for the Pearson family, claims that the chase lasted 26 minutes and argues those Flowood and Pearl officers could have terminated the pursuit at any time, but didn’t.

The chase ended when Irwin struck Pearson’s motorcycle, ejecting the man twenty feet, according to the complaint.
Pearson died shortly after the collision.

The suit claims officers with Pearl and Flowood violated state law by driving recklessly and carelessly through the area.

The suit also accuses those cities of failing to monitor negligent actions from its officers or properly investigate those accused of misconduct.

Gustavis alleges both cities’ police departments violated their own pursuit policies.

WLBT 3 On Your Side has asked for those policies from both agencies since last year, but Flowood and Pearl have yet to release them publicly, which one public records expert calls a violation of state law.

A WLBT investigation in January found that some aspects of Pearl’s pursuit policy may not have been followed at all, judging by standards and rules adopted by Rankin County several years ago.

The Pearson family’s complaint also alleges information that WLBT had made public months ago: the officers did not have enough information to believe Irwin had committed a felony when they pursued him.
The wrongful death suit – which seeks $10 million in punitive damages – claims the recklessness of those officers and Irwin led to Pearson’s death.

Gustavis also argues city officials did not do enough to ensure that officers responsible for these chases were reprimanded, implying that chases for non-felony crimes happen often.

Pearson’s death came less than a month after a pursuit by Pearl police into Jackson led to the death of another man, U.S. postal worker Brad Pennington.

A 3 On Your Side analysis of police chases in the metro found nearly one in five chases over the last five years was initiated by a Pearl police officer.

A Rankin County circuit judge still has to approve the motion for this amended complaint for it to move forward.

Officials with Pearl and Flowood declined to comment on the matter, saying they do not comment on pending litigation.

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Often grief keeps family members from filing their lawsuit in time. There are specific statutes of limitation that could prevent any recovery if a lawsuit is not filed during that timeframe. If you believe there is a claim for your loved one’s death, you should act right away.

What is Considered a Wrongful Death?

Under Mississippi Code Section 11-7-13 a “wrongful death” is any death (including in some situations an unborn child) that is caused by a (a) real, wrongful, or negligent act or omission, (b) unsafe machinery, way, or appliance, or (c) breach of any warranty of fitness of a commodity intended for human consumption, that would have entitled the deceased individual to recover damages under a personal injury lawsuit for his or her resulting injury or illness had they survived.
Wrongful death can be caused by virtually any action, from slips and falls to intentional harm. Common causes of wrongful death include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• 18 – wheeler accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace injuries

Under Mississippi law, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by a surviving spouse, child, parent, or sibling. If an estate is opened, the representative of the estate can also file a lawsuit to benefit the deceased’s family members.

It may feel difficult to discuss the details of your loved one’s death but if you think someone else’s actions or inaction caused your loved one’s death you must act before it is too late. If you’ve recently lost a loved one and would like assistance filing a wrongful death claim, feel free to contact Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. at 601-948-8005 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyers.

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The Association awarded Rogen with the Beyond the Call Trial Lawyer Emeritus award for his dogged passion in working with the organization to pursue justice for all Mississippians in the Mississippi Legislature. Ray was awarded the Legacy of Leadership award and the New Lawyer of the Year Award.

Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. represents people in car wrecks, 18-wheeler crashes, work injuries, offshore injuries, disability claims, and many other injury claims in state, federal, and administrative courts across Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Colorado.  The firm and its lawyers spend significant time working to make sure the laws are fair before even getting to court.  In states like Mississippi, where corporate interests often trump people’s rights, this is no easy task. The firm congratulates Rogen and Ray on these well-deserved awards presented by the Mississippi Association for Justice.
If you or a loved one was inured in a vehicle accident, at work, or any other personal injury scenario contact the dedicated firm of Chhabra & Gibbs. Our experienced legal team is standing by to get you the compensation you deserve, call us at 601-948-8005 for a Free consultation.

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Ms. Gustavis started with the firm as an intern while earning her Juris Doctorate at Mississippi College School of Law. After a successful externship with Justice Jim Kitchens of the Mississippi Supreme Court, she joined the firm in 2016 as an associate. During her career, Ms. Gustavis has litigated cases in state and federal courts and before the Mississippi Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. She is licensed in both Mississippi and Louisiana.

“Ray is a dynamic talent that effortlessly embraces Chhabra & Gibbs’ culture of excellence, teamwork, and empathy for our clients that sets our firm apart. We honor her contributions to our firm and are excited to see what the future holds” says Rogen Chhabra, Founding Partner.

Today, Ms. Gustavis maintains active membership in the Magnolia Bar Association, the Mississippi Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. She is currently an active member of MAJ’s Public Policy Committee, Young Lawyers Division, and serves on several committees with the Mississippi Bar.

Since joining Chhabra & Gibbs, Ms. Gustavis has become heavily involved in the firm’s personal injury and workers’ compensation litigation practices. Her diligent work on behalf of her clients has earned her honors and recognition such as The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 and Jackson Free Press, Best Local Lawyer of Jackson.

If you have been injured on the job or experienced a personal injury and need assistance from Ray Gustavis at Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., call 601-948-8005 or use our live chat or contact form on our website.

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Every now and then we have clients who have tried to negotiate with the insurance company on their own. Those clients often come to us both upset that the insurance company refuses to offer them adequate compensation and scared that if they get a lawyer involved the offer on the table will disappear.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money. They make that money by paying out the lowest amount possible. And even the most formidable client cannot force an insurance company to pay more than they want to pay when there is no attorney involved that can actually sue them.

The insurance company wants to settle your claim just as bad as you do, just for less money. Getting the right personal injury attorney involved not only puts more pressure on the insurance company to settle your claim; it also guarantees that you have someone on your side making sure you get every dollar you deserve.

If you are questioning whether you should take the insurance company’s offer or if you need to fire an attorney, call me for a free consultation. I have told potential clients in the past that the insurance companies offer is fair, but more often than not I was able to get them significantly more than what was on the table.

Ray L. Gustavis

If you or a loved one have questions about a personal injury claim and you want a free no obligation chance to discuss directly with an experienced attorney, call Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. at 601-948-8005 or reach us by live chat on our website for a free no obligation consultation. Our team of Mississippi personal injury attorneys have handled thousands of injury cases over the years, and we are ready to fight for you today.

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Amanda Fritz will be presenting “Workers’ Compensation: Key Concepts and Issues”. She will be discussing state workers’ compensation laws, the responsibilities of employers and employees, statutes of limitations, and workers compensation fraud during this presentation. Amanda will also be presenting “Navigating Workers’ Compensation Processes, Procedures and Forms”.
Ray Gustavis will be presenting “Calculating the Value of a Claim”. Ray will also be presenting “Strategies for Workers’ Compensation Hearings”. She will be discussing the tips and techniques of presenting evidence, key questions for lay and expert witnesses, raising effective objections, and affirmative defenses.

The 2-day course will be held in Jackson, Mississippi and will provide practical advice and training to practitioners including lawyers, paralegals, adjusters, employers, case managers, and medical personnel. Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. is dedicated to helping injured workers and protecting their rights. We will continue to work toward improving Mississippi’s workers’ compensation laws and raising awareness for injured workers’ needs. If you or a loved one need assistance with workers’ compensation in Mississippi, contact the attorneys at Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. by calling 601-948-8005 or by using our live chat on our website.

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Short answer – Probably, but you should consult with an attorney.

As a general rule, Mississippi’s Workers’ Compensation laws are a “no fault” system, which means that regardless of whose fault an injury is, if you are hurt while in the course and scope of your employment you are entitled to benefits. There are several specific instances that will look at whose “fault” the injury was; for example, horseplay or fighting with a non-coworker about something non-work related, but those instances are few and far between. What you need to remember is generally if you get hurt at work – no matter whose fault it is – then you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The only way to know for sure is to contact a Mississippi Workers’ compensation attorney who is knowledgeable about the specific workers’ compensation laws that apply to you.

Ray L. Gustavis

If you or a loved one has been injured at work regardless of whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. today. There is no fee to discuss your case and we always have attorneys available to speak with you. Contact us today by phone at 601-948-8005 or by live chat on our website at https://cglawms.com.

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When a loved one is hurt or killed resulting from a crime, suing someone is usually the last thing on your mind. But with the costs of hospital bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of income, support and companionship of someone close to you finding out whether or not you have a legal remedy outside of the criminal justice system can make a world of difference. In the state of Mississippi, if a business owner could reasonably expect for a crime to occur under the circumstances, they have a duty to provide adequate security measures to protect the public.

Was the person attacked at a business, ATM, school, apartment building, or in the parking lot of either?

Were there adequate security measures in place that would have prevented what happened?

Do you know of other crimes that have also happened in the area?

If you live in Mississippi and your answer to any of those questions is “maybe” then you need to consult an attorney.

Ray L. Gustavis

If you or a loved one were injured in a crime at a bank, shopping center, bar, hotel, restaurant, school or university, parking lot, apartment building, event, club, daycare, nursing home, hospital, office building, gas station or any other business you should contact the attorneys at Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. immediately to help with the process of gathering and preserving evidence that will be needed in order to have the best chance of winning the case. Contact Chhabra, Gibbs Gustavis, P.A. today to discuss your case by calling 601-948-8005. You can also use our live chat on our website to reach an attorney immediately.

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The short answer: it depends.

Even when another person is responsible for your injuries during a car wreck in Mississippi, if you were “in the course and scope” of your injuries you are entitled to workers’ compensation. As a general rule Employees are not covered by workers’ compensation when going to or coming from work but there are several exceptions to that general rule. For instance, if travel is a part of your job then it is possible you could be covered by workers’ compensation. Even if you are off the clock making a trip at the request of your supervisor you could be covered by workers’ compensation.

Ray L. Gustavis

The only way to know for sure that you are aware of all of your options is to talk to an attorney experienced with Mississippi and Louisiana Workers’ Compensation law. Give us a call at 601-948-8005 for your free consultation.

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Ray L. Gustavis

Having an attorney knowledgeable with the Workers’ Compensation system and familiar with the physicians can not only affect your case, but the rest of your life. Know your rights. If you or a loved one has suffered an on the job injury call Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. today by dialing 601-948-8005 or by using our website’s live chat feature.

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