Deanna Cook's Family Sues Dallas

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

DALLAS DIVISION

VICKIE COOK, Individually and As
Natural Mother to DEANNA COOK,
N.W., a Minor, By and
Through Her Grandparent and
Guardian VICKIE COOK,
A.W., a Minor, By and CIVIL ACTION NO. _________________
Through Her Grandparent and
Guardian VICKIE COOK and
KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY,
Individually and As Representative of
the Estate of DEANNA COOK,
DECEASED
JURY DEMANDED
Plaintiffs,

vs.

T-MOBILE USA, INC.,
METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AMERICA, LLC,
THE CITY OF DALLAS, and
ANGELIA HEROD-GRAHAM,

Defendants.

PLAINTIFFS ORIGINAL COMPLAINT

TO THE HONORABLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT:

COMES NOW VICKIE COOK, Individually and as Natural Mother to DEANNA
COOK; N.W. and A.W., minors, By and Through their Grandparent and Guardian, VICKIE
COOK; and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY, Individually and as Representative of the Estate of
DEANNA COOK, Deceased, Plaintiffs, complaining of the T-MOBILE USA, INC.,
METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
Case 3:14-cv-02907-G Document 1 Filed 08/13/14 Page 1 of 42 PageID 1
SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC, CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS (the
"CITY OF DALLAS"), and ANGELIA HEROD-GRAHAM with this Original Complaint allege
as follows:
I.
NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE ACTION

1. On August 17, 2012, DEANNA COOK, a person known to police to have been
involved in, and seemingly escaped, a domestically violent relationship, cried out to the Dallas
Police Department for assistance and to save her life. Ms. Cook died as the 9-1-1 operator and
police dispatcher were unable timely to obtain Ms. Cooks home address, leading to a delay in
responding to her life-threatening 9-1-1 call. This delay prohibited police and first responders
from timely providing police protection and/or medical attention to Ms. Cook, thus allowing her
to die.
2. Plaintiffs bring this action for negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, etc.
relative to wireless location accuracy, particularly in the context of 9-1-1 calls made over cellular
phones and wireless technology.
3. Plaintiffs also bring this action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and 1988; the Fourteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution; Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 71.002 and
71.021 and other constitutional provisions and laws of the United States and the State of Texas,
to recover damages for the deprivation under color of law, and in violation of federal law, of the
constitutional rights of N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK; and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY to
assistance and equal treatment under the law.
II.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This court has original jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331,
1343 since Plaintiffs are suing for relief under 42 U.S.C. 1983. This Court has jurisdiction over
Plaintiffs other claims under principles of pendent, ancillary and supplemental jurisdiction under
28 U.S.C 1367.
5. Venue is appropriate in the United States District Court; Northern District of
Texas, Dallas Division, since the city of Dallas is the location of the events made the basis of this
cause of action.
III.
PARTIES

6. Plaintiff VICKIE COOK resides in Dallas County, Texas.
7. Plaintiffs N.W. and A.W. are minors residing in Dallas and bring this action by
and through their Grandmother/Guardian VICKIE COOK and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY, as
the Independent Administrator of the Estate of DEANNA COOK.
8. Plaintiff KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY, who resides in Dallas County, Texas,
appears individually and also as the Independent Administrator of the Estate of DEANNA
COOK.
9. Plaintiff KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY resides in Dallas County, Texas.

10. Defendant the CITY OF DALLAS is a municipality of the State of Texas.
11. The CITY OF DALLAS funds and operates the City of Dallas Police Department,
which, along with the Mayor, Dallas City Managers office, and Chief of Police is responsible
for the implementation of the police departments budget, policies, procedures, practices,
customs, domestic violence policies, as well as the acts and omissions, challenged by this suit.
The City of Dallas Police Department is also responsible for preventive, investigative, and
enforcement services for all citizens of the CITY OF DALLAS.
12. Defendant CITY OF DALLAS is also responsible for ensuring that all of its
facilities, including the 9-1-1 call center, are in compliance with federal and state law,
department or agency policies, rules, and regulations, and related standards of care. Defendant
CITY OF DALLAS is, and/or was, the employer of individual Defendant ANGELIA HEROD-
GRAHAM and is responsible for the acts and/or omissions of same that were performed in the
course and scope of her employment.
13. Service of Process may be had on the CITY OF DALLAS by serving its City
Secretary, Rosa A. Rios, Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street, Room 5DS, Dallas, TX 75201-
6622.
14. Service of Process may be had on Defendant ANGELIA HEROD-GRAHAMA
by serving her at 1013 Christa Dr., Mesquite, TX 75149.
15. Defendant T-MOBILE USA, INC. (T-MOBILE), upon information and belief,
is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Washington. T-MOBILE provides
wireless voice, messaging and data services in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The causes of action set out herein arise from T-MOBILEs contacts with the State of Texas.
Service of process upon T-MOBILE may be had by serving its Registered Agent for Service of
Process, Corporation Service Company, 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, TX 78701-3218.
16. Defendant METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (MetroPCS) provides
wireless voice, messaging and data services in the United States. MetroPCS, upon information
and belief, is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 2250 Lakeside Blvd.,
Richardson, Texas 75082. Service of process upon MetroPCS may be had by serving its
Registered Agent for Service of Process, Corporation Service Company dba CSC - Lawyers
Incorporating Service Company, 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, Texas 78701.
17. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (Samsung Electronics) is a global
company involved in technology encompassing televisions, smartphones, personal computers,
printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED
solutions. The causes of action set out herein arise from Samsung Electronics contacts with the
State of Texas. Service of process upon Samsung Electronics may be had by serving its
Registered Agent for Service of Process, C T Corporation System, 1999 Bryan St., Ste. 900,
Dallas, TX 75201-3136.
18. Defendant SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC,
(Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other
telecommunications products throughout North America. Service of process upon Samsung
Mobile may be had by serving its Registered Agent for Service of Process, Corporation Service
Company dba CSC - Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620,
Austin, Texas 78701.
IV.
STATE ACTION

19. To the extent applicable, Defendants CITY OF DALLAS and ANGELIA
HEROD-GRAHAMA were acting under color of state law when they subjected DEANNA
COOK and/or Plaintiffs to the wrongs and injuries hereinafter set forth.
V.
ADDITIONAL FACTS PARTICULAR TO PLAINTIFFS CLAIMS

20. On Friday, August 17, 2012, while an intruder was attacking her inside her home,
DEANNA COOK, a 32 year-old mother of two, managed to dial 9-1-1 for assistance.
21. After Ms. Cooks 9-1-1 call initially went into a holding queue, the call was
eventually taken by Tonyita Hopkins, who was employed in the 9-1-1 call center of the City of
Dallas Police Departments Communications Section.
22. At the outset of the call, Ms. Cook can be heard screaming at the top of her lungs
in fear, crying out for assistance from the 9-1-1 Call Center.
23. According to an affidavit provided by Tonyita Hopkins, MetroPCS doesnt
always have addresses. Consequently, while precious time elapsed, Ms. Cooks home address,
an adequate location for her, and/or call back number information was not immediately provided
to the City of Dallas 9-1-1 call center. Ms. Hopkins asked for assistance from Johnnye
Wakefield to help locate the home address for the MetroPCS caller.
24. Nearly three minutes into the call, Ms. Cook can be heard begging her attacker to
stop and asking the attacker why he kicked her door in to gain entry. The attacker can be heard
asking Ms. Cook if she called the police.
25. Five minutes into the call Ms. Cook can be heard asking her attacker why he is
attacking her and stating please, please stop it.
26. Approximately seven minutes into the call, Ms. Cook can be heard telling her
attacker please, please, please..why are you doing this to me. She also screams help
repeatedly.
27. From the tone of Ms. Cooks voice and statements that her life was in jeopardy, it
was, or should have been, obvious that there was a physical disturbance in Ms. Cooks home and
that her life was being threatened.
28. Despite that it was apparent that Ms. Cook was being threatened, attacked and
was in fear for her life, it took nearly ten (10) minutes to finally initiate a dispatch request for
officers to go to Ms. Cooks southeast Dallas home. Ms. Cooks 9-1-1 call lasts approximately
11 minutes.
29. At some point during Ms. Cooks 9-1-1 call, a 9-1-1 operator advised Tonyita
Hopkins to disconnect Ms. Cooks call and call her back. Not surprisingly, after doing so, she
received Ms. Cooks voicemail.
30. Nearly 50 minutes after DEANNA COOKs 11-minute 9-1-1 call was placed, and
after finally receiving identifying information, Officers finally arrived at Ms. Cooks southeast
Dallas house. The officers looked around the home and left.
31. Two days later, on August 19, 2012, after Ms. Cook did not show up for church,
her daughters N.W. and A.W., mother VICKIE COOK, and sister KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY
went to Ms. Cooks residence.
32. Once at Ms. Cooks home, her family noticed that two of her dogs (who were
normally kept inside the house) were outside barking frantically. Water was leaking from Ms.
Cooks garage and other places.
33. Suspecting foul play, Ms. Cooks mother, VICKIE COOK, called 9-1-1 for
assistance after getting no response to knocks on the door or repeated calls to Ms. Cooks
METRO-PCS cellular phone.
34. During a 9-1-1 call from Ms. Cooks mother, Call Taker ANGELIA HEROD-
GRAHAM instructed VICKIE COOK that the Dallas Police Department would not send officers
to Ms. Cooks home and asked whether Ms. Cooks family had contacted the jails and local
hospitals to look for Ms. Cook, although they were reporting that DEANNA COOK was
missing.
35. HEROD-GRAHAM also told VICKIE COOK that Ms. Cook had called on
August 17, 2012 to report a domestic disturbance.
36. HEROD-GRAHAM repeatedly told VICKIE COOK that Ms. Cook would have
to call the prisons and hospitals before the CITY OF DALLAS would send police to the home.
"I just want officers to help us get in the house," VICKIE COOK pleaded. "Our police can't help
you get into the house," HEROD-GRAHAM responded.
37. VICKIE COOK continued to beg for help, even telling HEROD-GRAHAM there
was water pouring from the home. HEROD-GRAHAM didn't budge.
38. ANGELIA HEROD-GRAHAM stated that she was trained by the DALLAS
POLICE DEPARTMENT that in instances such as this she should ask the questions she asked
Ms. Cooks mother, despite that Ms. Cooks mother was pleading for help locating her missing
daughter. In other words, HEROD-GRAHAM stated that she was following the CITY OF
DALLASs policies and procedures, as she was trained.
39. After being denied any assistance from the CITY OF DALLAS, Ms. Cooks
family began to take matters into their own hands to locate their loved one. Ms. Cooks sister,
mother and daughters then went to the rear of her residence, where they kicked the patio door
down, and immediately noticed water flowing all throughout the house.
40. After entering the residence, Ms. Cooks family was nearly overcome by the
stench coming from Ms. Cooks bedroom. They also noticed that Ms. Cooks bedroom door had
been kicked in and her home showed clear signs of foul play.
41. Upon walking into Ms. Cooks bathroom, the family observed Ms. Cooks
partially nude body laying side-ways, half-in and half-out of the bathtub, floating atop the cold
overflowing water. Her body was severely discolored and skin abnormally wrinkly.
42. Immediately upon seeing Ms. Cooks body, her family screamed in shock and
agony at finding their loved one in this condition and despite all the pleas for assistance from the
police.
43. Now, more than 12 minutes after her initial 9-1-1 call, DEANNA COOKS
mother spoke to a 9-1-1 operator again and was advised to exit the home. After the police finally
arrived, DEANNA COOKs body was taken directly to the morgue.
44. Following this incident, Dallas Police Chief David Brown fired HEROD-
GRAHAM, alleging that she violated department policy.
45. Dallas police supervisor Lt. Ben Nabors stated that it is against Dallas Police
Department policy to make families call around before sending officers to check on someone. "I
stated that as soon as she [HEROD-GRAHAM] had the relevant information - which occurred
quickly in the call - she should have sent police," said Nabors.
46. However, on February 21, 2013, when HEROD-GRAHAM went before a civil
service board to try and get her job back, she stated, "I didn't refuse to send police, I did what I
was trained to do."
47. HEROD-GRAHAMs actions, if taken outside the scope of her employment,
constitute negligence and a violation of the constitutional rights of N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK;
and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY to assistance, protection, and equal treatment under the law.
48. The City of Dallas training and pronouncement of policies, which were
apparently followed by HEROD-GRAHAM, constitute negligence and a violation of the
constitutional rights of N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK; and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY to
assistance and equal treatment under the law.
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
49. 9-1-1 service is statutorily defined as a telecommunications service that provides
the user of the public telephone system the ability to reach a Public Safety Answering Point
(PSAP) by dialing the digits 9-1-1. Citizens rely on 9-1-1 to reach assistance in times of
individual crisis or major disaster. The 9-1-1 system is supposed to deliver 9-1-1 calls and
location data to the PSAP.
50. The Texas Legislature created the Commission on State Emergency
Communications (CSEC), which is an agency of the State of Texas charged with oversight of the
Statewide 9-1-1 system. The 9-1-1 Program is funded from the fee on each telephone line
reflected on an individual's telephone bill (i.e. wireline, wireless and VoIP). The CSECs role is
to preserve and enhance public safety and health in Texas through reliable access to emergency
communications services. The CSEC is also charged with developing minimum performance
standards for equipment and operation of 9-1-1 service, recommend minimum training standards,
assist in training, and provide assistance in the establishment and operation of 9-1-1 service.
51. Upon information and belief, the CITY OF DALLAS has been recognized as a
municipal emergency communications district pursuant to Health and Safety Code Chapter 772.
Upon further information and belief, the CITY OF DALLAS works with various
telecommunications providers to implement the providers GPS or other location technology.
52. The citys 9-1-1 call center is located in the basement of Dallas City Hall. The
funding for the center is provided in budgets prepared by the City Managers office.
53. According to 9-1-1 operator Tonyita Hopkins, at the time of DEANNA COOKs
death there were a series of problems in the 9-1-1 call center like not having enough call takers,
shortage of supervisors, poor quality equipment and lack of communication between the call
takers, police dispatchers and police, just to name a few.
54. At the time of Ms. Cooks death, the CITY OF DALLAS 9-1-1 call center had
inadequate operations, inadequate technology, insufficient staffing, inadequate training, improper
disciplinary procedures and unsatisfactory procedures to provide proper handling of 9-1-1 calls
in accordance with the goals of the CSEC and reasonable expectations. The 9-1-1 call center
overworked operators, struggled to handle massive numbers of calls and it is not uncommon that
incorrect and incomplete information is passed from call takers to police officers in the field.
55. Chief Brown admits that there is a need for technological upgrades in the citys
9-1-1 call center.
56. According to Chief Brown, officers respond to critical calls within six minutes.
However, it took approximately 50 minutes to respond to Ms. Cooks 9-1-1 cries for help and
even after the officers arrived, her call was not treated as a serious call.
DALLASS FINAL POLICY MAKERS AND CHANGES TO THEIR PREVIOUSLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL
CUSTOMS AND POLICIES

57. Actions taken and public pronouncements by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and
Dallas Police Chief David Brown demonstrate that the Mayor and Police Chief, as well as the
Dallas City Council, are final decision-makers and policymakers for many of the customs,
practices, policies and procedures complained of herein.
58. Additionally, recent policy changes made by Mayor Rawlings and Chief Brown
establish that the citys previously existing policies, customs and practices violated constitutional
rights of its citizens.
59. For instance, following Ms. Cooks death, Chief Brown changed the police
departments customs and policies by adding new call signals so that calls from women such as
Ms. Cooks call can be upgraded quickly, giving patrol officers the green light to drive fast with
their lights and sirens and make an emergency entry.
60. Chief Brown fired HEROD-GRAHAM after Ms. Cooks death, and suspended
HOPKINS. During a February 21, 2013, hearing of the civil service board, Dallas Police Chief
David Brown testified that he is the person who decided to fire HEROD-GRAHAM. Later,
Chief Brown stated publicly that he issued COLE a Written Reprimand and reassigned her.
Brown also said that he gave the officer who called COLE away from the 9-1-1 call center floor,
Lieutenant Ronald Thomasson, an Advice and Instructions reprimand because of the incident.
61. Chief Brown also moved police sergeants from patrol duty to supervisory roles in
the 9-1-1 center. He moved nearly two dozen patrol officers to the 9-1-1 call center to be trained
as operators. Furthermore, Chief Brown hired additional 9-1-1 operators for the call center to
remedy the understaffing that existed on the day Ms. Cook contacted the 9-1-1 center.
62. In a public announcement, Mayor Mike Rawlings affirmed that he and/or Chief
Brown are the final policy makers on staffing and disciplinary policies: "Like all police activity
that is immediate, I don't comment on it," he said. "I let the chief kind of look at that, then get
back to me with a full report, and that's the right and prudent way to handle it."
63. Following Ms. Cooks death, Chief Brown started a lethality assessment pilot
program in which patrol officers ask 11-yes-or-no questions during domestic violence calls to
ascertain whether a domestic call is a high-risk situation. If it is, the officer will explain to the
victim that people in such situations have been seriously hurt or killed. Then the officer will call
a domestic violence hotline and urge the victim to speak immediately to a counselor. Weve
actually changed what happens at the scene when were called to a domestic violence incident,
Chief Brown said. Prior to Ms. Cooks death, the CITY OF DALLAS had a policy and custom
of asking no such questions and paying lip service to suspects such as Ms. Cooks domestic
abuser, as evidenced by the multiple times the police asked no questions of Ms. Cook when she
reported the stalking. Instead, the police chose simply to shoo the attacker away from her home.
64. Around the time of Ms. Cooks death, the Dallas Police confirmed several
incidents of misplaced paperwork involving family violence cases. This new report came as the
department was in the midst of reviewing a number of other lost file cases, one involving a
former detective who reportedly took nearly 2,300 cases home. This time, police say several
boxes of investigative cases were found in an unused room. This is indicative of the disregard
with which the police viewed domestic violence cases against women.
65. In 2012, there were over 4,277 arrest warrants issued in Dallas for suspects in
domestic violence cases, but not all suspects were arrested. Following Ms. Cooks death, Chief
Brown stated that he is changing the Police Departments policies and is asking his officers to
urge family members, witnesses and victims to reveal more information about whereabouts of
suspects. In or about December 2012, under Chief Browns direction, the police department
launched a special task force of 100 officers to serve arrest warrants. This was a change in the
policy that existed before Ms. Cooks death when the Police Departments clear practices did not
allow it to arrest Ms. Cooks attacker each time she complained of stalking and domestic
violence.
66. On January 14, 2013, Mayor Rawlings stated that the police department would
step up efforts to track down and catch known domestic violence abusers, stating Im asking
Chief [David] Brown today to redouble those efforts, Rawlings said during a news conference
at City Hall. Weve got to dial it up to the next level. Thats a lot of people to track down,
Rawlings also said, That's why we've got to redouble our effort to make sure we re-prioritize
those [domestic violence suspects] warrants.And Im asking that these warrants be given the
highest priority, along with murders in this city. This was not the policy beforehand.
67. Previous to these changes, the police department did not take domestic violence
charges seriously, as evidenced by the dozens of times police did not arrest Ms. Cooks attacker
despite her complaints. In fact, during the January 2013 press conference, Mayor Rawlings said
the recent rise in fatal domestic violence cases in Dallas is unacceptable. It was the previous
unacceptable customs and policies that fostered the attitude held by Ms. Cooks attacker and
other abusers that the CITY OF DALLAS would not take domestic abuse seriously. This
contributed to Ms. Cooks death. The Mayor, Dallas City Council, City Manager, and Police
Chief all had a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining the previously unconstitutional
practices and customs that led to the manner in which DEANNA COOKs pre-August 17, 2012
domestic violence complaints were handled and the way VICKIE COOKs 9-1-1 call was
handled on August 17, 2012.
VI.
CAUSES OF ACTION

COUNT ONE:
STRICT LIABILITY T-MOBILE DEFENDANTS
68. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate by reference the allegations set forth in all
preceding paragraphs as if set forth fully and reiterated here in their entirety.
69. METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and, upon information and belief, T-
MOBILE USA, INC., (collectively, the T-MOBILE Defendants) participated in providing a
wireless cellular telephone, telecommunications technology, and wireless voice, messaging and
data services to DEANNA COOK.
70. DEANNA COOK placed the August 17, 2012, telephone call to the City of Dallas
9-1-1 call center from her MetroPCS cell phone, telephone number 214-962-6737.
71. According to an affidavit provided by Tonyita Hopkins, MetroPCS doesnt
always have addresses. Consequently, while precious time elapsed, an adequate location and/or
call back number information was not immediately provided to the City of Dallas 9-1-1 call
center. In addition, MetroPCS did not provide available technology to DEANNA COOK or the
City of Dallas to allow the 9-1-1 call center quickly to locate DEANNA COOK within the
accuracies available in other technologies on the market.
72. The T-MOBILE Defendants are and have been at all times pertinent to this
Complaint, engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, assembling, promoting,
advertising, distributing and selling telecommunications technology, wireless PDAs, cellular
telephones, wireless voice, messaging and data services such as that used by DEANNA COOK.
The T-MOBILE Defendants knew and anticipated that the telecommunications technology
and/or mobile device services and products used by DEANNA COOK would be sold to and
operated by purchasers, including DEANNA COOK. The T-MOBILE Defendants also knew
that the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products would reach
DEANNA COOK without substantial change in its condition from the time the services and
technology and/or mobile device services and products were provided to DEANNA COOK and
other users.
73. The T-MOBILE Defendants designed, manufactured, marketed, assembled,
and/or tested the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products to
be unreasonably dangerous and defective within the meaning of Section 402(A) Restatement
(Second) Torts, in that the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products were defective and unreasonably dangerous as designed, manufactured, assembled,
marketed, and/or tested because of the following design, manufacturing and/or marketing
defects, among others:
a. The telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products were defectively designed because they failed to allow
emergency personnel to accurately determine a callers location;
b. The telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products were defectively designed because they failed to use readily
available GPS tracking technology;
c. The telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products were defectively designed because they failed to provide a
physical address for the 9-1-1 callers;
d. The location-finding performance of the telecommunications technology
and/or mobile device services and products used by DEANNA COOK
were not state-of-the-art;
e. The telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products were unreasonably dangerous since the T-MOBILE Defendants
failed to warn of a foreseeable risk arising from the use of the
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products, and lack of adequate warnings or instructions rendered otherwise
adequate products unreasonably dangerous;
f. The T-MOBILE Defendants failed to conduct proper engineering analysis,
failure mode effects analysis, fault tree analysis, design, quality control
analysis, root cause analysis, and emerging hazard analysis to evaluate the
potential risks, hazard and dangers of the telecommunications technology
and/or mobile device services and products performing inadequately in
emergency situations; and
g. The T-MOBILE Defendants failed to prevent or guard against its
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products experiencing location deficiencies by using safer alternative
designs that should have used better designed technologies and materials
to prevent the catastrophic consequences that occurred here. The designs
could have been provided at little additional cost.
74. There were no mandatory safety standards or regulatory adopted and promulgated
by the federal government or an agency of the federal government that were applicable to the
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products at the time of
manufacture and development and that governed the product risk that caused this harm.
Alternatively, the design of the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services
and products did not comply with the mandatory safety standards or regulations adopted by the
federal or state government that were applicable to the telecommunications technology and/or
mobile device services and products at the time of the development or manufacture and that
governed the risks that proximately caused the death of DEANNA COOK when the responders
did not reach her in the first few minutes. Additionally, in the alternative, in the event that such
standards were in effect, and they were complied with, they were nevertheless inadequate to
protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury or danger, or the manufacturer, before or
after marketing the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products,
withheld or misrepresented the information or material relevant to the federal governments or
agencies determination of the adequacy of the safety standards or regulations at issue.
75. The defects in the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services
and products could not have been anticipated by a reasonable person, and, therefore presented an
unreasonably dangerous situation for expected users such as DEANNA COOK, even when used
in a reasonable and foreseeable manner.
76. The T-MOBILE Defendants should have reasonably foreseen that the dangerous
conditions caused by the defective telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services
and products would subject DEANNA COOK to harm resulting from the defects. The T-
MOBILE Defendants acted with conscious disregard for the safety of DEANNA COOK,
knowing that their conduct created a high and unreasonable risk of serious harm to others and the
jury should be permitted to return a verdict of aggravating circumstances damages that will serve
to punish Defendants and deter others from like conduct.
77. DEANNA COOK used the Defendants telecommunications technology and/or
mobile device services and products for its intended purpose and in a reasonable and foreseeable
manner. Nevertheless, Plaintiffs have suffered damages through no fault of their own but as a
direct and proximate result of the T-MOBILE Defendants conduct and/or omissions.
78. As a proximate result of the actions and omissions of the T-MOBILE Defendants,
DEANNA COOK died after suffering severe injuries, damages and property loss, for which
Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT TWO:
NEGLIGENCE T-MOBILE DEFENDANTS
80. The Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) is charged with
developing minimum performance standards for equipment and operation of 9-1-1 service,
recommend minimum training standards, assist in training, and provide assistance in the
establishment and operation of 9-1-1 service. As a result of the CSEC allowing the T-MOBILE
Defendants to provide 9-1-1 capable mobile equipment to Texas residents, T-MOBILE has a
duty to 9-1-1 users such as DEANNA COOK, who are taxed for the 9-1-1 services.
81. The T-MOBILE Defendants had a duty to DEANNA COOK to provide safely
designed and manufactured products and technology. Defendants also had a duty to warn
DEANNA COOK of the true nature of the defective nature of the telecommunications
technology and/or mobile device services and products. Defendants failed to fulfill this duty.
82. According to several testing companies and independent engineering firms, the T-
MOBILE Defendants had available to it technology that would have allowed the 9-1-1 operators
to locate DEANNA COOKs cell phone within 30 feet or less of her calling location, and to
locate her quicker than the several minutes it actually took. However, the T-MOBILE
Defendants made a conscious decision not to make this technology available to the CITY OF
DALLAS and DEANNA COOK. Defendants refusal to provide this technology and information
constitutes negligence and gross negligence.
83. Defendants were negligent and grossly negligent in at least the following respects
as it relates to the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products:
a. Failing to comply with the statute or regulation designed to protect a class
of individuals such as Deanna Cook from being unable to be located by 9-
1-1 dispatchers when using a cell phone;
b. Designing and distributing telecommunications technology and/or mobile
device services and products with a design standard that was intended
barely to meet the minimum government regulations, if any, instead of
safely designing telecommunications technology and mobile device
services and products to reasonably minimize injuries in foreseeable
situations;
c. Failing to adequately monitor the performance of the telecommunications
technology and/or mobile device services and products in the field to
ensure that they were reasonably minimizing failures to track a callers
location in an emergency;
d. Failing to adequately test the telecommunications technology and/or
mobile device services and products to ensure that it would be reasonably
safe in foreseeable situations;
e. Failing to program its services and products to automatically send GPS
coordinates to 9-1-1 operators as soon as the call is initiated;
f. Failing to adequately train the City of Dallas 9-1-1 operators on the
standard operating protocol in responding to calls from MetroPCS and T-
Mobile callers;
g. Refusing to use readily available location performance technology that
met or exceeded the FCCs 50 meter threshold at 80%;
h. Failing to adequately upgrade its cell towers;
i. Failing to design the systems and technology to be able to report to 9-1-1
dispatchers the phone number of a wireless caller and the location of the
antenna that receives the call;
j. Failing to adequately use global positioning satellite data to provide more
precise information of where cellular calls are coming from, generally
within 30 to 100 meters of the caller's location;
k. Failing to recall, retrofit, or issue post-sale warnings after the T-MOBILE
Defendants knew, or should have known, that the telecommunications
technology and/or mobile device services and products and its component
parts were defective and unreasonably dangerous;
l. Failing to monitor its quality control unit suppliers; and
m. Failing to impose rigorous manufacturing quality control standards on its
suppliers.
84. As a proximate result of Defendants conduct, DEANNA COOK died after
suffering severe injuries, damages and property loss, for which Plaintiffs are entitled to recover,
in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT THREE:
BREACH OF EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES T-MOBILE DEFENDANTS
86. The T-MOBILE Defendants breached express warranties that the
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products were safe, reliable
and that quality was of paramount importance.
87. The T-MOBILE Defendants also breached the implied warranties of
merchantability. The warranty of merchantability is implied into every commercial transaction.
The warranty of merchantability requires that products be of reasonable workmanlike quality and
free from defects. Defendants impliedly warranted that the telecommunications technology
and/or mobile device services and products were of merchantable quality. The Defendants
breached the warranty of merchantability by designing, manufacturing, distributing, selling and
refusing to adequately repair or replace their telecommunications technology and/or mobile
device services and products after it became apparent they were defective in its ability to locate
callers.
88. At all times, DEANNA COOK relied on representations made by the T-MOBILE
Defendants that their telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products
are reliable and of a quality that rendered them suitable for their intended use, including in
emergency situations requiring the caller to be located quickly. DEANNA COOK also relied on
Defendants to produce telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products of merchantable quality as required by the implied warranty of merchantability.
89. The T-MOBILE Defendants breached its warranties to DEANNA COOK in that
the defective design of their telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and
products renders them unusable for their intended purpose and Defendants refuse to properly
repair or replace these items.
90. As a proximate result of the T-MOBILE Defendants conduct, which led to
DEANNA COOKs untimely death, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the minimum
jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT FOUR:
DTPA VIOLATION T-MOBILE DEFENDANTS
92. The T-MOBILE Defendants breached express warranties that their
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products contained features
that would allow police, fire and other emergency responders easily to find the Cook family.
93. The T-MOBILE Defendants also violated 17.46(b)(7), (13), (24), inter alia,
when it (i) represented that the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services
and products were of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that it was of a particular style or
model, when it was of another; (ii) knowingly made false or misleading statements of fact
concerning the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products and
the alleged capabilities of its location-finding technology; and (iii) failed to disclose information
concerning the outdated and inadequate telecommunications technology and/or mobile device
services and products that was known at the time of the transaction since such failure to disclose
such information was intended to induce DEANNNA COOK and her family into a transaction
into which the family would not have entered had the information been disclosed.
94. As a proximate result of the T-MOBILE Defendants conduct, which contributed
to the untimely death DEANNA COOK, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the
minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT FIVE:
MISREPRESENTATION T-MOBILE DEFENDANTS
96. In various commercials, internet postings, periodicals, press releases, marketing
materials and personal conversations etc., the T-MOBILE Defendants have represented that their
technology is state of the art and that the safety of their customers is paramount. These
representations were intended to, and did, cause consumers such as DEANNA COOK and her
family to rely on the T-MOBILE Defendants representations and purchase telecommunications
technology and/or mobile device services and products. As a result of her reliance on these
representations of location accuracy, DEANNA COOK made the decision to use METROPCS
and/or T-MOBILE products.
97. However, as discussed above, the T-MOBILE Defendants made
misrepresentations of the quality, reliability and safety of its telecommunications technology
and/or mobile device services and products, all to the detriment of DEANNA COOK and
Plaintiffs.
98. As a proximate result of the T-MOBILE Defendants misrepresentations, which
ultimately contributed to DEANNA COOKs untimely death, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover in
excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT SIX:
STRICT LIABILITY SAMSUNG DEFENDANTS
100. SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC and, upon
information and belief, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD (collectively, the SAMSUNG
Defendants) participated in providing a wireless cellular telephone, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology to DEANNA COOK.
101. DEANNA COOK placed the August 17, 2012, telephone call to the City of Dallas
9-1-1 call center using her SAMSUNG wireless cellular telephone.
102. The SAMSUNG Defendants are and have been at all times pertinent to this
Complaint, engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, assembling, promoting,
advertising, distributing and selling wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology such as that used by DEANNA COOK. The SAMSUNG
Defendants knew and anticipated that the wireless cellular telephone, mobile communications
and telecommunications technology used by DEANNA COOK would be sold to and operated by
purchasers, including DEANNA COOK. The SAMSUNG Defendants also knew that the
wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology would
reach DEANNA COOK without substantial change in its condition from the time the services
and technology and/or mobile device services and products were provided to DEANNA COOK
and other users.
103. The SAMSUNG Defendants designed, manufactured, marketed, assembled,
and/or tested the wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications
technology to be unreasonably dangerous and defective within the meaning of Section 402(A)
Restatement (Second) Torts, in that the wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology were defective and unreasonably dangerous as designed,
manufactured, assembled, marketed, and/or tested because of the following design,
manufacturing and/or marketing defects, among others:
a. The wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology were defectively designed because they
failed to allow emergency personnel to accurately determine a callers
location;
b. The wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
failed to use readily available GPS tracking technology;
c. The wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
failed to provide an address for 9-1-1 callers;
d. The location-finding performance of the wireless cellular telephones,
mobile communications and telecommunications technology were not
state-of-the-art;
e. The wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology were unreasonably dangerous since the
SAMSUNG Defendants failed to warn of a foreseeable risk arising from
the use of the mobile device services and products, and lack of adequate
warnings or instructions rendered otherwise adequate products
unreasonably dangerous;
f. The SAMSUNG Defendants failed to conduct proper engineering
analysis, failure mode effects analysis, fault tree analysis, design, quality
control analysis, root cause analysis, and emerging hazard analysis to
evaluate the potential risks, hazard and dangers of the wireless cellular
telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology
performing inadequately in emergency situations; and
g. The SAMSUNG Defendants failed to prevent or guard against its wireless
cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications
technology experiencing location deficiencies by using safer alternative
designs that should have used better designed technologies and materials
to prevent the catastrophic consequences that occurred here. The designs
could have been provided at little additional cost.
104. There were no mandatory safety standards or regulatory adopted and promulgated
by the federal government or an agency of the federal government that were applicable to the
wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology at the
time of manufacture and development and that governed the product risk that caused this harm.
Alternatively, the design of the wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology did not comply with the mandatory safety standards or
regulations adopted by the federal government that were applicable to the wireless cellular
telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology at the time of the
development or manufacture and that governed the risks that proximately caused the death of
DEANNA COOK. Additionally, in the alternative, in the event that such standards were in
effect, and they were complied with, they were nevertheless inadequate to protect the public
from unreasonable risks of injury or danger, or the manufacturer, before or after marketing the
wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology,
withheld or misrepresented the information or material relevant to the federal governments or
agencies determination of the adequacy of the safety standards or regulations at issue.
105. The defects in the SAMSUNG wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology could not have been anticipated by a
reasonable person, and, therefore presented an unreasonably dangerous situation for expected
users such as DEANNA COOK, even when used in a reasonable and foreseeable manner.
106. The SAMSUNG Defendants should have reasonably foreseen that the dangerous
conditions caused by its defective wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology would subject DEANNA COOK to harm resulting from the
defects. The SAMSUNG Defendants acted with conscious disregard for the safety of DEANNA
COOK, knowing that their conduct created a high and unreasonable risk of serious harm to
others and the jury should be permitted to return a verdict of aggravating circumstances damages
that will serve to punish Defendants and deter others from like conduct.
107. DEANNA COOK used the Defendants wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology for its intended purpose and in a reasonable
and foreseeable manner. Nevertheless, the Plaintiffs have suffered damages through no fault of
their own but as a direct and proximate result of the SAMSUNG Defendants conduct and/or
omissions.
108. As a proximate result of the actions and omissions of the SAMSUNG Defendants,
DEANNA COOK died after suffering severe injuries, damages and property loss, for which
Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT SEVEN:
NEGLIGENCE SAMSUNG DEFENDANTS
110. The Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) is charged with
developing minimum performance standards for equipment and operation of 9-1-1 service,
recommend minimum training standards, assist in training, and provide assistance in the
establishment and operation of 9-1-1 service. As a result of the CSEC allowing the SAMSUNG
Defendants to provide 9-1-1 capable mobile equipment to Texas residents, SAMSUNG has a
duty to 9-1-1 users such as DEANNA COOK, who are taxed for the 9-1-1 services.
111. The SAMSUNG Defendants had a duty to DEANNA COOK to provide safely
designed and manufactured products. Defendants also had a duty to warn DEANNA COOK of
the true nature of the defective design of the wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology. Defendants failed to fulfill this duty.
112. According to several testing companies and independent engineering firms,
SAMSUNG had available to it technology that would have allowed the 9-1-1 operators to locate
DEANNA COOKs SAMSUNG cell phone within 30 feet or less of her calling location, and to
locate her quicker than the several minutes it took. However, SAMSUNG made a conscious
decision not to make this technology available to the City of Dallas and DEANNA COOK.
SAMSUNGs refusal to provide this technology and information constitutes negligence and
gross negligence.
113. Defendants were also grossly negligent in at least the following respects as it
relates to the wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications
technology:
a. Failing to comply with the statute or regulation designed to protect a class
of individuals such as Deanna Cook from being unable to be located when
using a cell phone;
b. Designing and distributing the wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology with a design
standard that was intended barely to meet the minimum government
regulations, if any, instead of safely designing the wireless cellular
to reasonably minimize injuries in foreseeable situations;
c. Failing to adequately monitor the performance of the wireless cellular
in the field to ensure that they were reasonably minimizing failures to
track a callers location;
d. Failing to adequately test the wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology to ensure that it
would be reasonably safe in foreseeable situations;
e. Failing to program its services and products to automatically send GPS
coordinates to 9-1-1;
f. Failing to adequately train the City of Dallas 9-1-1 operators on the
standard operating protocol in responding to calls from SAMSUNG cell
phones;
g. Refusing to use readily available location performance technology for the
SAMSUNG products that met or exceeded the FCCs 50 meter threshold
at 80%;
h. Failing to adequately upgrade its cell towers;
i. Failing to design the systems and technology to be able to report to 911
dispatchers the phone number of a wireless caller and the location of the
antenna that receives the call;
j. Failing to adequately use global positioning satellite data to provide more
precise information of where cellular calls are coming from, generally
within 30 to 100 meters of the caller's location;
k. Failing to recall, retrofit, or issue post-sale warnings after the SAMSUNG
Defendants knew, or should have known, that the wireless cellular
and its component parts were defective and unreasonably dangerous;
l. Failing to monitor its quality control unit suppliers; and
m. Failing to impose rigorous manufacturing quality control standards on its
suppliers.
114. As a proximate result of SAMSUNGs negligence, DEANNA COOK died after
suffering severe injuries, damages and property loss, for which Plaintiffs are entitled to recover,
in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT EIGHT:
BREACH OF EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES SAMSUNG DEFENDANTS
116. The SAMSUNG Defendants breached expressed warranties that the wireless
cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology were safe,
reliable and that quality was of paramount importance.
117. The SAMSUNG Defendants also breached implied warranties. For instance, the
warranty of merchantability is implied into every commercial transaction. The warranty of
merchantability requires that products be of reasonable workmanlike quality and free from
defects. Defendants impliedly warranted that the wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology were of merchantable quality. The
Defendants breached the warranty of merchantability by designing, manufacturing, distributing,
selling and refusing to adequately repair or replace their wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology after it became apparent they were
defective.
118. At all times, DEANNA COOK relied on the representations made by the
SAMSUNG Defendants that their wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology are reliable and of a quality that rendered them suitable for their
intended use. DEANNA COOK also relied on the fact that Defendants would produce wireless
cellular telephones, mobile communications and telecommunications technology of
merchantable quality as required by the implied warranty of merchantability.
119. The SAMSUNG Defendants breached its warranties to DEANNA COOK in that
the defective design of their wireless cellular telephones, mobile communications and
telecommunications technology renders them unusable for their intended purpose and
Defendants refuse to properly repair or replace these items.
120. As a proximate result of the SAMSUNG Defendants conduct, which caused
DEANNA COOKs untimely death, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the minimum
jurisdictional limits of this Court.
COUNT NINE:
DTPA VIOLATION SAMSUNG DEFENDANTS
122. The SAMSUNG Defendants breached guarantees that their telecommunications
technology and/or mobile device services and products contained features that would allow
police, fire and other emergency responders easily to find the Cook family.
123. The SAMSUNG Defendants also violated 17.46(b)(7), (13), (24), inter alia,
when it (i) represented that the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services
and products were of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that it was of a particular style or
model, when it was of another; (ii) knowingly made false or misleading statements of fact
concerning the telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products and
the alleged capabilities of its location-finding technology; and (iii) failed to disclose information
concerning the outdated and inadequate telecommunications technology and/or mobile device
services and products that was known at the time of the transaction since such failure to disclose
such information was intended to induce DEANNNA COOK and her family into a transaction
into which the family would not have entered had the information been disclosed.
124. As a proximate result of the SAMSUNG Defendants conduct and omissions,
which contributed to the untimely death DEANNA COOK, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover in
COUNT TEN:
MISREPRESENTATION SAMSUNG DEFENDANTS
126. In various commercials, internet postings, periodicals, press releases, marketing
materials and personal conversations etc., the SAMSUNG Defendants represented that their
cellular phones and technology is state of the art and that the safety of their customers is
paramount. These representations were intended to, and did, cause consumers such as DEANNA
COOK and her family to rely on the SAMSUNG Defendants representations and purchase
telecommunications technology and/or mobile device services and products from SAMSUNG
representatives. As a result of her reliance on these representations of location accuracy,
DEANNA COOK made the decision to use SAMSUNG products.

127. However, as discussed above, the SAMSUNG Defendants made
misrepresentations of the quality, reliability and safety of its wireless cellular telephones, mobile
communications and telecommunications technology, all to the detriment of DEANNA COOK
and Plaintiffs.
128. As a proximate result of the SAMSUNG Defendants misrepresentations, which
ultimately contributed to DEANNA COOKs untimely death, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover in
COUNT ELEVEN:

CLAIMS UNDER 42 U.S.C. 1983 AND THE 14
TH

AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

130. According to its website, the Dallas Police Department, in serving the people of
Dallas, strives to reduce crime and provide a safe city by, inter alia, recognizing that its goal
is to help people and provide assistance at every opportunityand to provide preventive,
investigative, and enforcement services. The website also indicates that Dallas police officers
will [p]erform their duties with the knowledge that protection of the lives and property of all
citizens is their primary duty.
131. The CITY OF DALLAS and HEROD-GRAHAM, acting under color of law and
acting pursuant to customs, practices and policies of the CITY OF DALLAS deprived VICKIE
COOK, N.W. and A.W., and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY of their rights and privileges
secured to them by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and by other
laws of the United States, by failing to provide proper emergency assistance in violation of 42
U.S.C. 1983 and related provisions of federal law and in violation of the above cited
constitutional provisions.
132. As discussed above, HEROD-GRAHAM stated during her disciplinary hearing
that her actions on August 19, 2012, were consistent with the training she received from the
CITY OF DALLAS. Accordingly, the CITY OF DALLAS failed to adequately train HEROD-
GRAHAM regarding how to respond to a familys calls regarding locating a family member who
has been a domestic violence victim. This failure to train its employees in a relevant respect
reflects a deliberate indifference to the rights of the citys inhabitants and is actionable under 42
U.S.C. 1983.
133. Implicit in the statements from HEROD-GRAHAM, the CITY OF DALLAS has
a policy, practice, or custom of law enforcement that provides less assistance (e.g. by not
responding at all or purposefully delaying its response) to calls regarding domestic assault
victims than to victims of other assaults. More specifically, HEROD-GRAHAM stated that the
policy she was taught by the CITY OF DALLAS was to have the families of domestic violence
victims, such as DEANNA COOK, contact jails and hospitals before police would be sent to
the residence. This discrimination against women and residents of certain neighborhoods was a
motivating factor in the refusal to prioritize and respond quickly to the call from VICKIE
COOK. And the fact that VICKIE COOK, N.W. and A.W., and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY
entered and observed a crime scene was the result of the CITY OF DALLAS policy, custom, or
practice, as well as CITY OF DALLAS inaction in response to the call.
134. The CITY OF DALLAS has a policy, practice, or custom of law enforcement that
provides less assistance to female victims in high crime and predominantly minority-race
neighborhoods than to victims in other neighborhoods. This discrimination was a motivating
factor in the refusal to prioritize and respond quickly to VICKIE COOKs 9-1-1 call and the fact
that VICKIE COOK, N.W. and A.W., and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY entered and observed
a crime scene was the result of the CITY OF DALLAS policy, custom, or practice, as well as
their inaction in response to the call. As further evidence of the policy as to how the CITY OF
DALLAS treats domestic violence issues is the fact that although DEANNA COOK contacted
the Dallas Police Department on multiple occasions to report stalking and domestic violence, the
police department would always simply ask the perpetrator to leave. They did not arrest or
charge the suspect, nor did the police provide Ms. Cook with the information required by Art.
5.04(a). This was a practice and custom established by the CITY OF DALLAS and followed by
the police officers. Indeed, HEROD-GRAHAMs actions of trivializing a call about domestic
violence were simply an extension of this custom and policy.
135. The CITY OF DALLAS and HEROD-GRAHAM responded differently to
VICKIE COOKs 9-1-1 call than if the call had been made by someone similarly situated but of
a non-minority race and/or in a more affluent neighborhood. The CITY OF DALLAS and
HEROD-GRAHAM did not respond to VICKIE COOKs 9-1-1 call timely, or seriously, since
they continually believed this domestic situation in a less affluent neighborhood was less
deserving of their attention. Such conduct is not at all related to any governmental purpose.
136. In addition, the CITY OF DALLAS, as applicable, failed and refused to
implement customs, policies, practices or procedures, and failed to train its personnel adequately
on the appropriate policies, practices or procedures regarding the handling of 9-1-1 domestic
violence calls from family members. In so doing, the CITY OF DALLAS and HEROD-
GRAHAM knew that they were acting against the clear dictates of current law, and knew that as
a direct consequence of their deliberate decisions, the very situation that occurred -- i.e., family
members observing a loved ones death in a crime scene -- in all reasonable probability would
occur.
137. At the time of VICKIE COOKs call, HEROD-GRAHAM knew that VICKIE
COOK was calling from a socioeconomically deprived neighborhood and it was also obvious
from listening to VICKIE COOKs voice that she was a minority caller calling about what
appeared to be a domestic violence dispute. Additionally, HEROD-GRAHAM also discovered
that DEANNA COOK had made previous calls reporting domestic violence. In other words,
DEANNA COOK and VICKE COOKs racial and socioeconomic classifications factored into
the way Defendants handled her 9-1-1 call.
138. Defendants actions also demonstrate that VICKIE COOK was the victim of
purposeful discrimination, because of her race and/or gender, or due to an irrational or arbitrary
state classification unrelated to a legitimate state objective.
139. Additionally, no rational basis existed for the alleged policies of affording the
family of female victims of domestic violence less police protection or assistance than other
crime victims or giving these victims less investigative attention than other victims.
140. Similarly, no rational basis existed for the alleged policies of affording 9-1-1
callers from high-crime areas or predominantly minority areas less police protection or assistance
than other crime victims or giving the families of these female victims less investigative attention
than other victims.
141. In addition to the conduct describe above, HEROD-GRAHAM violated VICKIE
COOKs rights, inter alia, when she failed to prioritize the call from Ms. Cooks family and
refused to alert dispatchers of the grave nature of the call. Treating VICKIE COOK differently
based upon her race and socioeconomic neighborhood constitutes and equal protection violation.
The Dallas Police Chief has stated that HEROD-GRAHAM deviated from policy.
142. Upon information and belief, HEROD-GRAHAM acted independently during
some of the conduct or omissions complained of herein and, alternately, within the general scope
of her employment during other conduct or inaction.
143. At the time of the conduct complained of, HEROD-GRAHAM was performing
ministerial, not discretionary, duties, the breach of which led to the family entering a crime scene
and observing DEANNA COOK in the state in which they found her.
144. No reasonably competent official would have concluded that the actions of the
CITY OF DALLAS and HEROD-GRAHAM described herein would not violate the rights of
VICKIE COOK and the other Plaintiffs who were at DEANNA COOKs residence when
HEROD-GRAHAM and the other 9-1-1 operators refused to send police in response to VICKIE
COOKs plea. In other words, no reasonably prudent call center employee, supervisor or officer,
under similar circumstances, could have believed that HEROD-GRAHAMs conduct was
justified.
145. No rational basis existed for the alleged policy of affording the families of female
victims of domestic violence less police assistance than other crime victims.
146. In addition, Plaintiffs were intentionally treated differently from others similarly
situated and there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment.
147. In addition to the above actions and inaction, HEROD-GRAHAM failed to
prioritize the call from Ms. Cooks family and refused to alert dispatchers of the grave nature of
the call, thus causing Ms. Cooks family to enter a crime scene and observe their loved one dead,
murdered in her own bathtub.
148. The CITY OF DALLASs and HEROD-GRAHAMs conduct described above
constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, and/or intentional misconduct.
COUNT TWELVE:
BYSTANDER RECOVERY

150. On August 19, 2012, VICKIE COOK made the call to 9-1-1 and asked that the
operator send police to DEANNA COOKs residence to investigate her missing. HEROD-
GRAHAM refused to dispatch police and told the family they would have to contact the local
jails and hospitals before the CITY OF DALLAS would send help to the Cook family.
151. To make matters worse, instead of offering assistance, , HEROD-GRAHAM,
informed the family that Ms. Cook had made a 9-1-1 call two days earlier. This sent the family
into an emotional panic.
152. After repeated pleas for assistance fell on deaf ears, Ms. Cooks family
investigated the perimeter of the house themselves and was able to tell that something was
wrong. So, the family kicked the patio door down to gain entry into the residence. Upon
entering Ms. Cooks home, N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK, and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY
were overcome by the stench coming from Ms. Cooks bedroom.
153. Upon walking into Ms. Cooks bathroom, N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK, and
KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY observed Ms. Cooks partially clad body laying side-ways, half-
in and half-out of the bathtub, floating atop the cold overflowing water. Her body was severely
discolored and skin abnormally wrinkled.
154. After finding Ms. Cook dead, a 9-1-1 operator overhead Ms. Cooks family
screaming in shock and agony at finding their loved one in this condition, despite all the earlier
pleas to the police for assistance.
155. N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK, and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY were all located
near the bath tub where DEANNA COOKs body was found; their shock resulted from a direct
emotional impact upon them from the sensory and contemporaneous observance of the incident;
and each is closely related to DEANNA COOK, as her daughters, mother and sister.
156. More than 12 minutes after her initial 9-1-1 call on August 19, 2012, Ms. Cooks
mother spoke to a 9-1-1 operator again whereupon Ms. Cook stated my baby is in the tub dead.
After the police finally arrived, DEANNA COOKs body was taken directly to the morgue.
157. At the time of VICKIE COOKs call, HEROD-GRAHAM and the other 9-1-1
operators assisting her knew that VICKIE COOK was calling from a socioeconomically deprived
neighborhood and it was also obvious from listening to VICKIE COOKs voice for several
minutes that she was a minority caller calling about what the 9-1-1 operators knew to be the
product of a domestic dispute. Additionally, HEROD-GRAHAM and the other 9-1-1 operators
discovered that Ms. Cook had made previous calls reporting domestic violence. In other words,
VICKIE COOKs racial and socioeconomic classifications factored into the way ANGELIA
HEROD-GRAHAM and the other 9-1-1 operators handled her 9-1-1 call, as well as the attendant
investigation.
158. N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK, and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY all suffered
direct injury in form of mental anguish and emotional distress from entering a crime scene (since
police wouldnt come out) and witnessing Ms. Cooks dead body after police failed to intervene
to save her life and refused to discover her body, which could have prevented Ms. Cooks family
from having to observe the horrific condition of their loved one.
COUNT THIRTEEN:
WRONGFUL DEATH
160. Plaintiffs bring this wrongful death claim against Defendants pursuant to Texas
Civil Practice & Remedies Code sections 71.001-71.012.
161. Plaintiff VICKIE COOK is a statutory beneficiary of DEANNA COOK and relied
on her for love, affection, comfort, financial assistance, protection, affection and care.
162. Plaintiff VICKIE COOK is also acting as Guardian and Next Friend of minor
children Plaintiffs N.W. AND A.W., both of whom are statutory beneficiaries of DEANNA
COOK and relied on her for love, affection, comfort, financial assistance, protection, affection
and care.
163. Plaintiff KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY is the executor/administrator of the Estate
of DEANNA COOK.
164. Defendants wrongful acts proximately caused the death of DEANNA COOK.
165. DEANNA COOK would have been entitled to bring an action for her injuries had
she lived.
166. As a proximate result of Defendants conduct, which caused the untimely death of
DEANNA COOK, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover in excess of the minimum jurisdictional
limits of this Court.
COUNT FOURTEEN:
SURVIVAL ACTION
168. Plaintiffs bring this survival action against Defendants pursuant to Texas Civil
Practice & Remedies Code Sections 71.021-71.022.
169. Plaintiff KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY is the legal representative of the estate of
DEANNA COOK. Prior to her death, DEANNA COOK had a survival action for herself.
KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY is appearing in the survival action as the legal representative of
the estate of DEANNA COOK.
170. Plaintiff VICKIE COOK is a statutory beneficiary of DEANNA COOK and relied
on her for love, affection, comfort, financial assistance, protection, affection and care.
171. Plaintiff VICKIE COOK is also acting as Guardian and Next Friend of minor
children Plaintiffs N.W. AND A.W., both of whom are statutory beneficiaries of DEANNA
COOK and relied on her for love, affection, comfort, financial assistance, protection, affection
and care.
172. Defendants wrongful acts led to DEANNA COOKs death.
173. As a proximate result of Defendants conduct, which led to the untimely death of
DEANNA COOK, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover, in excess of the minimum jurisdictional
limits of this Court.
COUNT FIFTEEN:
DAMAGES ALL DEFENDANTS
174. Defendants acts and/or omissions were a proximate cause of the following
injuries suffered by Plaintiffs and decedent:
a. Actual damages for DEANNA COOK and for N.W., A.W., VICKIE
COOK; and KARLETHA COOK-GUNDY individually;
b. Loss of affection, consortium, comfort, financial assistance, protection,
affection and care;
c. Pain and suffering and mental anguish suffered by DEANNA COOK prior
to her death;
d. Mental anguish, emotional distress, and other damages suffered
individually by N.W., A.W., VICKIE COOK; and KARLETHA COOK-
GUNDY;
e. Loss of quality and value of life;
f. Funeral and burial expenses;
g. Loss of service;
h. Loss of earnings and contributions;
i. Other damages recoverable at law or in equity in actions involving the
conduct alleged herein;
j. Exemplary and punitive damages as well as reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs of court;
k. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1988, and other applicable laws, Plaintiffs should
be awarded reasonable attorney's fees for the preparation and trial of this
cause of action, and for its appeal, if required;
l. Prejudgment interest; and
m. Post judgment interest.
175. Plaintiffs seek unliquidated damages in an amount that is within the jurisdictional
limits of the court.
COUNT SIXTEEN:
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES
176. Plaintiffs seek exemplary damages for injuries caused by Defendants gross
negligence under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 41.003(a)(3), as defined by
Section 41.001(11). Plaintiffs also seek exemplary damages for the wrongful death of the
decedent caused by Defendants willful act or omission or gross neglect, as provided in Texas
Constitution, article 16, section 26, and Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 71.009.
Finally, Plaintiffs seek exemplary damages under any and all other statutes, acts, or law
providing for such damages.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
177. Defendants have actual notice of DEANNA COOKs death and the other
damages and injuries complained of herein. Any conditions precedent have occurred, been
performed, or have been waived.
DEMAND FOR JURY
178. Plaintiffs demand a jury trial.
PRAYER
Wherefore, Premises Considered, Plaintiffs pray that Defendants be cited to appear and
answer herein and, upon final trial hereof, that Plaintiffs have and recover from Defendants the
Plaintiffs actual damages, exemplary damages, pre and post-judgment interest, costs of court,
attorneys fees, and such other and further relief, both general and special, at law and in equity,
to which they may be justly entitled.
Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ Aubrey Nick Pittman
AUBREY NICK PITTMAN

THE PITTMAN LAW FIRM, P.C.
100 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201-2112
214-459-3454
214-853-5912 fax
[email protected]


Deanna Cook's Family Sues Dallas

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Deanna Cook's Family Sues Dallas

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Deanna Cook's Family Sues Dallas

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is the nature and purpose of the action being brought forward?

What parties are involved in the lawsuit and what are their roles?

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

You might also like