ATLANTA — Attorneys for the family of JauMarcus McFarland, a teenager killed in an elevator accident, have laid out their case. On Thursday, they announced their plans to sue several parties for the death of the Champion Prep Academy football player.
“The death of JauMarcus was tragic and sad, but what our investigation will show is that his death is a direct correlation of a multitude of failures,” said attorney Shean Williams.
In August, McFarland and several other athletes entered an elevator inside the northeast Atlanta apartment complex, where they were housed by the academy. The elevator malfunctioned and somehow collapsed on McFarland and pinned him between two floors.
“The owners and managers of 444 Highland maintained an unsafe building,” said Williams.
State officials later confirmed that the elevator was a year past due for inspection.
In a statement, the apartment property manager said he believed the weight of McFarland and the other athletes inside the elevator exceeded the weight capacity of the elevator and caused the malfunction.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Last Thursday, investigators with the safety fire commissioner’s office found 16 violations, including how elevator technicians were unlicensed to perform repairs.
“I would just like to know what happened,” said James Boyce, McFarland’s stepfather.
In September, McFarland’s mother and stepfather demanded answers.
Today, family attorneys said they believe with these lawsuits, the family will get the answers they need.
TRENDING STORIES:
- ‘Armed and dangerous’: Police searching for 2 suspects who robbed metro Atlanta Waffle House
- Henry County police investigating officer-involved shooting
- Third Georgian has contracted omicron variant, DPH says
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/10-07-2021/t_942ef1a909a049e4a90615241537eee1_name_New_Project.jpg)
©2021 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WJVERMTCKFHFPBF2LNONHSDB4M.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/RIJGDTLX65BOLKB4UXZYEHF3TU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/EAEYSHO235FT3JZE54MZ7UC6UQ.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DZGCIHZKNBD33ASK6I2AWYWSY4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2F6U24IRAFE3XK3GG4BEA2QFTY.png)