CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — More families are coming forward to join a lawsuit that's being filed against Nueces County over issues at the Medical Examiner's Office.
3NEWS confirmed on July 8, that 15 families represented by Gowan Elizondo LLP and the Law Office of Ralph M. Rodriguez intend to sue the County for damages sustained as a result of negligence and issues that came to light earlier this year about the Medical Examiner Office.
Attorney Ralph M. Rodriguez confirmed to 3NEWS Friday, four more families have come forward seeking their representation, bringing the number of families suing Nueces County to 26.
View the full interview here:
Rodriguez cited what he calls instances of neglect on the part of the Medical Examiner's Office, including examinations being performed by a person who is not a licensed physician -- something he says the medical examiner covered up.
It was back in January when former Deputy Medical Examiner Sandra Lyden was fired for not having a valid medical license. She was eventually arrested and charged with tampering with government records with the intent to defraud or harm another person.
Her boss, former Medical Examiner Adel Shaker, was also arrested. He was charged with tampering or falsifying a government record, unauthorized practice of medicine, and abuse of a corpse.
The claim sent by Gowan Elizondo lists several of the damages reportedly sustained by their clients, including but not limited to negligent handling of remains, non-compliant or substandard procedures in which a body was treated, falsified causes of death, and more.
Along with excessive delays in providing death certificates, Rodriguez said one body was kept for so long that it began to decompose.
"Some of the bodies now will be required to be exhumed for new examinations to be performed by a licensed physician," Rodriguez said. "Several of the cases are resulting in a delay in the criminal prosecution or potential outright dismissal of the criminal charges based upon the report that was done by the office."
Rodriguez went on to say that Nueces County has likely never faced a bigger issue of wrongdoing than has been done in these cases. He also said his office continues to receive calls from grieving families, and that there is every possibility that the lawsuit could grow in days ahead.
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