Professional Negligence Law Reporter
Medicine
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Wrongful posting of autopsy images on social media
November/December 2025During the delivery of Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor’s baby, shoulder dystocia occurred. The attending physician allegedly applied force to the head and neck, and the baby allegedly was decapitated. The parents were not told about the decapitation until several days later.
Ross and Taylor later hired pathologist Jackson Gates to perform an autopsy. Gates posted videos of the baby’s head and internal organs on Instagram. As a result, Ross and Taylor required professional counseling.
They filed suit against Gates and his practice, alleging invasion of privacy, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After the defense defaulted, the case proceeded to trial on damages.
A jury awarded the plaintiffs $2.25 million.
Citation: Ross v. Gates, No. 23EV005480 (Ga. St. Ct. Fulton Cnty. June 18, 2025).
Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Roderick Edmond, Shofaetiyah Watson, and Cory Lynch, all of Atlanta.
