Federal Court Judge Pamela Reeves has ruled a portion of the wrongful-death lawsuit against Blount County Sheriff’s deputy Jerry Burns and fired deputy James Patty to go forward.

The deputies involved and the county sheriff can’t be sued in their roles as county employees; but the lawsuit may proceed against the deputies as private individuals.

In the incident in question, 25-year-old Anthony Edwards died after a July 2016 arrest. Part of the arrest was captured on dash cam; Edwards was heard repeating, “I’m having a seizure.”

An autopsy later revealed blunt-force injuries to Edwards’ head were the cause of death.

Patty was later arrested in a child-sex sting and fired.