AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The parents of a baby who was decapitated during birth at a Clayton County hospital were awarded millions by a Fulton County grand jury against the doctor they hired for an autopsy after photos of it were posted online.
The grand jury awarded Jessica Ross and Traveon Taylor Sr. $2,250,000 in damages on Wednesday.
In September 2023, the couple filed a lawsuit against Dr. Jackson Gates and Gates Rapid Diagnostic Laboratory of Atlanta. The lawsuit had claimed Gates, who was hired by the couple to do a private autopsy on Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr., uploaded a video of it to his public social media page.
“While we are pleased that a jury punished Dr. Jackson Gates for his reprehensible behavior, nothing can ease the pain that the parents, Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr., have experienced in losing their baby boy in such a horrific way,” the couple’s attorneys said in a statement. “After the decapitation of their baby, Gates poured salt into the couple’s already deep wounds when he betrayed them. This young couple trusted him with the remains of their precious baby. Gates, in turn, repaid this trust by posting horrific images of their child for the world to see.”
The couple’s attorneys said they believe the jury sent a “powerful message that doctors must always consider the feelings of their patients and in this case their clients.”
“Always move with empathy,” they said.
Atlanta News First talked with Dr. Jackson Gates on Friday. He referred all questions to his lawyer but said he deleted the old Instagram account and started a new one. He said he still posts autopsies on social media.
In a phone call with Gates’ attorney Ira Livnat, Livnat initially characterized the verdict as ‘disappointing’ but stressed the $2.25 million awarded is far less than the roughly $30 million the couple’s attorneys were initially demanding.
Livnat said Gates did not intend to cause harm when he posted the images. He believes the jury understood that when offering their verdict.
In March 2024, a Fulton County judge ruled that Gates and the diagnostic lab were liable in the baby’s death.
The couple also filed a lawsuit against Southern Regional Medical Center, claiming doctors incorrectly delivered the baby, causing the decapitation in July 2023.
The couple’s attorneys said the case against the hospital is still pending.
“We are still fighting this case, and we will continue to fight,” said Corey Lynch, an attorney for the Clayton County couple.
After the incident, Ross and Taylor were able to welcome their first child into the world, a daughter.
“Everyday, they lament the fact that daughter doesn’t have an older brother,” said Roderick Edmond, attorney for the couple.
