Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 09, 2026
Judge Allows Wrongful Death Suit Against New Haven Police to Proceed
TLDR
- The McMillian wrongful death ruling against New Haven signals a strong precedent for holding police accountable when mandatory duties are ignored.
- The court found overwhelming evidence that officers failed to take McMillian into custody or seize firearms, and a missing LAP form allowed an inference of concealment.
- This ruling advances justice for William McMillian and pushes for police reforms that could prevent future tragedies and save lives.
- A missing Lethality Assessment Protocol form led the court to allow a jury to infer deliberate concealment of evidence in this wrongful death case.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it underscores the legal consequences when law enforcement fails to follow mandatory protocols in domestic disputes involving firearms and mental health crises. The ruling reinforces that police departments can be held accountable for ignoring duties that could prevent tragic outcomes, and the alleged destruction of evidence raises broader concerns about transparency and accountability. For residents, it signals that courts may allow juries to decide whether officers' failures constitute negligence, potentially leading to systemic reforms in how police handle such high-risk situations.
Summary
A Connecticut Superior Court judge has denied motions for summary judgment from the City of New Haven and three police officers in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of New Haven firefighter William J. McMillian. The November 2, 2026 decision allows the case to proceed to trial, with the Court citing "overwhelming evidence" that responding officers disregarded mandatory duties to take McMillian into custody and seize his firearms following a domestic dispute on May 6, 2021.
According to the release, McMillian's former girlfriend called 911 days after their relationship ended, reporting that he was intoxicated, behaving erratically, and had access to multiple firearms. Although one officer wanted to take McMillian into custody, a supervising sergeant instructed the officer to issue a misdemeanor summons instead. McMillian was not taken into custody, and the officers failed to check for or seize his firearms. He died by suicide with one of those firearms hours later. The estate's expert psychiatrist is expected to testify that custody would have allowed for a cooling-down period for the acute psychiatric condition that led to the suicide. A critical issue is the disappearance of a Lethality Assessment Protocol form documenting McMillian's condition and firearm access; the Court ruled a jury could infer the form was deliberately concealed or destroyed to hide negligence.
The ruling follows a $38 million federal jury verdict in Morant v. City of New Haven, where the City was found liable for suppressing evidence favorable to criminal defendants. Attorneys Bert McDowell Jr. of Bert McDowell Injury Law and Ron Etemi of Etemi Law represent the McMillian estate. The case raises serious concerns about police accountability and evidence handling. A jury trial is scheduled for May 2027. For more information, visit www.EtemiLaw.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Judge Allows Wrongful Death Suit Against New Haven Police to Proceed
