Lawfirm Representing 22-Month-Old Tamir Lake’s Family Seeks $2.5 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death Case

The legal battle over the tragic death of 22-month-old Tamir Lake has intensified, as attorneys representing his mother, Rhonda Jeremiah, demand a $2.5 million settlement from Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands (LSSVI)and other responsible parties.

The demand follows claims of negligence, inadequate care, and wrongful actions that ultimately led to the child’s death while in state custody.

Attorney Atiim Abraham, representing Jeremiah, asserts that the evidence will prove that Tamir’s death was preventable. “We submit that after we have presented all the evidence to a jury of the Plaintiff’s peers, they will agree with us that young Tamir’s life mattered. Tamir had a right to live, he had a right to have friends, he had a right to live a long life, longevity,” said Abraham.

According to the attorney, the Defendants—including LSSVI and the Department of Human Services (DHS)—failed to take responsibility for their actions and continued to operate under the same practices that led to Tamir’s death. “The absolute worst part about this is they blamed the Plaintiff, accusing her of causing her own son’s death,” Abraham said, adding that the facility disregarded multiple requests for the child’s autopsy report.

According to an autopsy report released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in July 2020, Tamir suffered from blunt force trauma to the head, which led to a seizure while he was in the custody of Queen Louise Home for Children. The DOJ ruled the case a homicide and transferred it to the V.I. Police Department for further investigation. However, no criminal charges were filed in connection to his death.