Summary: The family of Timesha Beauchamp accepted a $3.25 million settlement after the 20-year-old—who had cerebral palsy—was mistakenly declared dead at her Southfield, Michigan, home in August 2020 and later found breathing at a funeral home. She was hospitalized but died two months later; her attorney says she sustained massive brain damage from oxygen deprivation. City officials acknowledged the tragedy and cited pandemic-era complexities as part of the context for the settlement.
Family Accepts $3.25M Settlement After 20-Year-Old Declared Dead Was Found Alive at Funeral Home
Fieger Law Timesha Beauchamp (right) and a family member (left).
The family of Timesha Beauchamp has accepted a $3.25 million settlement after the 20-year-old—who had cerebral palsy—was mistakenly declared dead by emergency responders in August 2020 and later found breathing at a funeral home.
According to court filings and statements from the family's attorneys, an emergency room physician pronounced Beauchamp dead by phone at her Southfield, Michigan, home on August 23, 2020. When her body arrived at a local funeral home, an attendant preparing to embalm her discovered that she was still breathing with her eyes open.
Beauchamp was rushed to a hospital following the discovery. She later died in October 2020. Geoffrey Fieger of Fieger Law, who represented the family, said she suffered "massive brain damage" caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation after being incorrectly declared deceased.
Fieger Law Timesha Beauchamp (left) and a family member (right).
Fieger Law confirmed the $3.25 million settlement, saying it was reached after "years of hard-fought litigation." The firm described the outcome as bittersweet, noting the award allows the family to close a painful chapter but cannot undo their loss.
"We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family," Southfield city officials said in a statement. "This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances that arose in the complex world of a global pandemic."
At the time of the incident, the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office said the death declaration relied on real-time medical data provided by responding authorities and EMS personnel that indicated heartbeat and breathing. The Southfield Fire Department also stated that responding teams "followed all appropriate city, county and state protocols and procedures in this case."
The family had earlier filed a $50 million lawsuit against Southfield EMS paramedics, alleging Timesha was declared dead when she was "very much alive." The settlement resolves those claims and related litigation.
This case has prompted renewed attention to emergency response protocols, the challenges of remote medical pronouncement, and the added complexities of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the Beauchamp family, the legal resolution offers financial compensation and closure, but their attorney and relatives say it cannot replace their daughter.
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