ST. LOUIS — A mother is suing Missouri State Highway Patrol, the city of Pevely and others in a wrongful death case.
Lavoy Savalas Steed, deceased, by and through his next friend Toya Steed, filed a complaint on May 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against Missouri State trooper Brent J. Fowler, Missouri State trooper J.A. Ashby, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the city of Pevely alleging that they violated the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the plaintiff's son Lavoy Steed died on May 11, 2014, as a result of the injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle accident during a police pursuit of suspected traffic offender. As a result of Lavoy Steed's death, the plaintiff claims she has suffered severe emotional pain, mental anguish and emotional distress.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly breached their duty to take reasonable actions to guaranty the safety of innocent bystanders and to protect citizens.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages costs incurred for this action, attorney's fees and all other relief as the court may deem just. She is represented by James Robinson of the Law Office of James Robinson LLC in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division Case number 4:17-cv-01440