PHOENIX — The family of a 58-year-old man, who died from exposure to extreme heat in Phoenix last summer, is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against several parties, including Maricopa County. The case emerged one year after Lafayette Palmes was found dead on a day when temperatures soared to 116 degrees.
Palmes, who struggled with mental health challenges, was under the guardianship of Maricopa County at the time of his death. According to family members, the circumstances surrounding his passing prompted them to seek accountability. “We are his voice. He didn’t have a voice,” said LaQuana Glover, the man’s niece.
Palmes was known for his intelligence, kindness, and dedication to family. Glover shared memories of growing up with Palmes, describing him as a bright student before his mental health struggles intensified. His diagnosis of schizophrenia came in his 40s after a lifetime of challenges, including the loss of his mother in 2020, who had been his primary caregiver.
Following their mother’s death, Palmes’ sister brought him to Arizona but found she could no longer care for him. Court documents indicate that he was later placed under the permanent guardianship of the Maricopa County Public Fiduciary, which mandated 24-hour care to ensure his safety and proper treatment.
Palmes’ situation drew concern from relatives. His cousin, Breauna Davis, attempted to take action when she learned he was in Phoenix, hoping to reunite him with family members. “I reached out trying to inquire about the process of getting him back home,” Davis said. Tragically, before that reunion could occur, the family received the heartbreaking news that Palmes had passed away.
The family’s lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the Chandler assisted living facility listed as Palmes’ residence. They contend he had recently been transferred there after his previous facility failed to provide him with necessary medication for his schizophrenia.
On July 3, Resilient Health, Palmes’ behavioral health provider, arranged for his transportation to a scheduled appointment at a clinic. However, the lawsuit claims he never made it inside. Although the care facility notified authorities about his absence, the message went unnoticed for several days. By the time Chandler police were alerted on July 9, Palmes had already been discovered dead in an alley on July 6. The medical examiner concluded that he died from dehydration and heat exposure, with findings indicating that his body temperature reached nearly 110 degrees while the pavement temperature was recorded at 157 degrees.
Davis recounted the distressing details of Palmes’ condition when he was found. “His face was burned from lying on the asphalt. His whole body was burned. So no telling how long he laid out there in the heat. That’s just a very, very sad way to go,” she said.
Currently, Palmes’ family is seeking a trial by jury, demanding justice for what they perceive as indifference toward their loved one’s death. “It’s kind of mind-boggling and it bothers me that they’re just like, ‘Oh well, he died in an alley,’ and they just went on like he was nobody; he was somebody,” Glover expressed.
Maricopa County officials have refrained from commenting on the ongoing lawsuit. Efforts to reach Resilient Health for a response remain pending.
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