ATLANTA, Ga. (October 20, 2025) –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, along with attorneys Eric Hertz and Liza Park, will hold a news conference Tuesday with the family of Christon Collins, a 36-year-old Army veteran who died in custody at DeKalb County Jail, to announce the filing of a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Melody Maddox, multiple detention officers, and an EMT.
The complaint alleges that on March 13, 2024, Collins collapsed in his housing unit and was left unresponsive for more than three hours as officers failed to provide CPR, Narcan, or other lifesaving aid. Inmates repeatedly begged staff for help while several officers allegedly remained on their phones or ignored warnings that Collins was not breathing. When medical personnel finally arrived, they too delayed intervention. Collins suffered cardiac arrest and anoxic brain injury, dying two days later.
WHO:
Family of Christon Collins
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Eric Hertz
Attorney Liza Park
WHEN:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET
WHERE:
The Omega World Center
3951 Snapfinger Pkwy, Suite 310
Decatur, GA
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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 bencrump.com.
