News & Investigations

Our Civil Rights Team led by Mark V. Maguire reached a $2 million settlement for the estate of Marvin David Scott III, who was wrongfully killed by police officers while in custody.

Mr. Scott was under arrest for a misdemeanor of marijuana possession. He had a history of schizophrenia and while in custody at Collin County Detention Facility started to behave erratically, in a way consistent with a schizophrenic episode. The officers then tied him to a bed, placed a spit hood on him and pepper sprayed him. Mr. Scott became unresponsive and was pronounced dead shortly after.

The medical examiner’s report stated that the cause of death was “fatal acute stress response in an individual with previously diagnosed schizophrenia during restraint struggle with law enforcement.” This is an example of the county’s failure to maintain safe and civilized jails. Our firm is satisfied in knowing that after their tragic loss and a grueling legal process, the family received some comfort in seeing the county be held accountable for their actions.

Colin S. Haviland, Esq. and Daniel N. Purtell, Esq. settled an FELA case for $700,000 on behalf of a client who suffered severe injuries as a result of his Railroad employer failing to supply the proper equipment to complete his job.

McEldrew Purtell’s client was directed to manually lift an excavator bucket weighing in excess of three hundred pounds, despite his employer having a rule its employees should lift anything over 55 pounds without the assistance of a machine.  Our firm is proud of our work on our client’s behalf because we secured the money he needed to get him back on his feet and provide his family the financial security they deserve.

Attorney John. J Coyle settled an FELA case for $885,000 for a union railroad worker, John Felder, who suffered serious injuries on the job, while loading railroad ties.

Mr. Felder and a coworker were tasked with moving railroad ties onto a flatbed truck without the assistance of any appropriate equipment when the tie slipped out of the co-workers hand resulting in a serious injury to our client. McEldrew Purtell is proud to represent members of the railroad community to ensure safety, accountability and to secure the outcome that they deserve.

Attorney Mark V. Maguire of our civil rights team secured $1.25 million for the estate of Damien Daniels, an Army veteran, wrongfully killed by police during a welfare check.

On August 25, 2020, Damien Daniels was shot twice in the chest by police officers dispatched to his home by his own family for a wellness check. Mr. Daniels, a combat veteran suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder, was previously a subject of four mental-health related calls with no incident. Knowing the state of Mr. Daniels’ the family reached out to the Red Cross to perform the wellness check, they in-turn called the police department to encourage him to check in to the local VA hospital for assistance. The police unequipped for mental health assistance escalated, resulting in the wrongful death of our client.

Though nothing can bring Mr. Daniels back, his family receives restitution. The family and community knows that McEldrew Purtell’s Civil Right Teams would not rest without holding accountability for the untimely loss of their loved one. 

Marcus A. Washington, Esq. settled a medical malpractice case for $2 million to be paid to the estate of our client Tyrone Hanes.

Mr. Hanes suffered from a catastrophic automobile accident that left him with chronic pain and physical limitations. There was some promise for relief with a spinal fusion surgery routinely used to help correct the pain and damage from accidents like the one that he suffered.

After surgery Mr. Hanes was placed in a halo, a metal device that circles and attaches to the skull, designed to keep bones in your neck from moving. The halo was improperly fitted and ended up cutting off his airway, resulting in his wrongful death. While the family still grieves the unexpected loss of Tyrone, they saw justice in this complex medical malpractice case. 

Our client, a new born child, was failing to thrive when the doctors told the parents that the child was fine. While feeding soon after, the child lost consciousness and was pronounced dead a few days later. While nothing will bring back their child, McEldrew Purtell is satisfied in knowing the family received the compensation they deserved and those responsible were held accountable for their loss.

Armani Faison, 35, was incarcerated in Philadelphia’s Currran-Fromhold Correctional Facility for a mere shoplifting charge when things took a heinous turn. Mr. Faison was placed in a cell with Kevin Massey who has a history of violence and sexual assault on his prior cellmates. The night he was placed in the cell with Massey, Armani was brutally attacked and ultimately murdered. Surrounding prisoners overheard Faison screaming for hours while he was brutalized without any intervention because the cell block was not staffed with a single guard. This is an example of a complete failure of leadership within the correction facility and is emblematic of the City’s complete failure to maintain safe and civilized jails.

After their tragic loss and a grueling legal process, the family is finally seeing the city be held accountable for their neglect.  Armani’s family and the City of Philadelphia entered into a $2 million settlement to resolve the pending federal civil rights lawsuit. McEldrew Purtell partner John Coyle, who represented Armani’s family, stated: “Armani’s death was a completely avoidable tragedy. This settlement allows the family to move forward and grieve the loss of their loved one while also sending a message to the City that the neglect shown to individuals in its custody must be addressed.”