Federal Judge rejects Trooper’s bid to dismiss lawsuit

Stop, don't move. You're gonna kill her. I'm gonna kill you if you move again.

You may remember this moment. A father stopped at gunpoint while rushing his 10 year old daughter to the ER. Now, years later, that moment is at the center of another lawsuit. Michael Morris says his daughter couldn't breathe back in December of 2022. He rushed her to the hospital, speeding, running red lights and calling 911 to say that it was a medical emergency. Virginia State Trooper Timothy DeRocha tried pulling

him over and eventually stopped him in the LewisGale parking lot and drew his gun. Now Morris' daughter, identified as M.M., is suing, claiming she was kept from getting emergency medical care during a life-threatening situation. She says her 14th Amendment rights were violated. But DeRocha's attorneys asked a judge to throw the case out, arguing he should be protected by qualified immunity. It's basically a legal rule that often protects police from being sued.

But after months of review, a federal judge says the case can move forward, writing, When someone can't breathe, seconds matter. This isn't the end. The case now moves on and federal court will keep you updated on court will keep you updated on

air and online at WSLS.com.