SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A Michigan city has agreed to a $3.25 million settlement with the family of Timesha Beauchamp, a 20-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, after paramedics mistakenly pronounced her dead. Beauchamp was later discovered alive when an embalmer opened her body bag at a funeral home.
On August 23, 2020, Beauchamp’s mother found her unresponsive and called 911. Four EMTs responded, attempted CPR and ventilation, and concluded resuscitation efforts had failed, declaring her dead. She was transported to a funeral home, where staff discovered she was still alive. Beauchamp was taken to a hospital, placed on a ventilator, and survived for six more weeks before dying from brain injuries.
“We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family,” the city of Southfield said in a statement.
Beauchamp’s family filed a gross negligence lawsuit against the city and the emergency medical workers, arguing that the EMTs’ misjudgment prevented timely medical care and directly contributed to her injuries. The case went through multiple courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, which initially granted the EMTs qualified immunity for constitutional claims. However, a Michigan appeals court revived the suit in July 2024, noting that the trial court had dismissed it prematurely before discovery.
The settlement provides a measure of justice for Beauchamp’s family. “She was put in a situation she never should have been in,” said Steven Hurbis, the family’s attorney.
Claims against police officers present at the scene were dismissed, as the appeals court determined their actions did not cause Beauchamp’s injuries.
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