Press Article: Legal Battle Intensifies as Terminally Ill Plaintiff Faces New Orleans Coroner
NEW ORLEANS — The legal fight against New Orleans Coroner Dwight McKenna escalated this week as the plaintiff, Sidney Smith, disclosed his terminal cancer diagnosis, revealing he has just months to live. The trial, initially set for June 23, faced an indefinite delay request from McKenna, which his remaining attorneys rescinded after media inquiries suggested they might be trying to “run out the clock” on Smith.
Smith is among four families suing McKenna for alleged gross negligence in the mishandling of deceased relatives’ remains. He recounted how he only learned of his special-needs son Justin’s demise weeks after it occurred, a tragedy compounded by the coroner’s office failing to notify him promptly.
McKenna has already been found negligent in a separate case involving the Pfantz family, where their son’s body was erroneously recorded and cremated without their knowledge. The coroner has consistently defended his office, attributing failures to budget shortfalls while dismissing criticisms from grieving families.
Smith, visibly weakened, remains determined to proceed with the trial, stating, “They’re not gonna run out the clock. I’m going to be here.” His resolve underscores the urgency of accountability amid widespread allegations of negligence within the coroner’s office.
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