Executive Summary
- Plaintiff: Ava Smith filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit regarding her son, Laison Crenshaw.
- Incident: Crenshaw died following an altercation and restraint at Dell Seton Medical Center in Feb. 2024.
- Defendants: The suit names Ascension Seton, former officer Austin Dubois, security guards, and medical staff.
- Criminal Outcome: Austin Dubois pleaded guilty to official oppression and surrendered his peace officer license.
- Evidence: The lawsuit cites internal video footage alleging unprovoked force by security staff.
AUSTIN — A federal wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Ascension Seton, a former University of Texas police officer, and various medical staff following the 2024 death of a patient at Dell Seton Medical Center. The complaint, filed Friday by Ava Smith, alleges that excessive force and medical negligence directly resulted in the death of her 37-year-old son, Laison Crenshaw, who was at the facility seeking mental health treatment.
According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court, Smith brought Crenshaw to the hospital on February 21, 2024, for care regarding ongoing mental health issues. The plaintiff contends that instead of receiving treatment, Crenshaw was subjected to a violent altercation. Court documents state that internal hospital video footage shows Crenshaw standing in his room "simply looking around" before security guards allegedly "bull-rushed" him, forcing him against a wall with enough force to dent the sheetrock, and subsequently taking him to the floor.
The filing details that former University of Texas police officer Austin Dubois handcuffed Crenshaw while he was in a prone position and applied "significant pressure" with his knee to Crenshaw’s back. The lawsuit asserts that these actions occurred "with medical personnel standing just feet away." The plaintiff alleges that despite the known risks of positional asphyxia, neither the security staff nor the medical personnel intervened before Crenshaw suffered a cardiovascular event attributed to the restraint. Although medical workers initially revived him, Crenshaw never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead days later.
Austin Dubois, the officer involved, has faced criminal proceedings regarding the incident. According to the Travis County District Attorney's Office, Dubois pleaded guilty on February 13 to official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, and accepted a pretrial diversion agreement. As part of the plea, Dubois has permanently surrendered his Texas peace officer license. The civil lawsuit also names specific security guards and a doctor who allegedly ordered sedatives during the encounter, claiming these actions further inhibited the patient’s breathing.
While KXAN reported that Ascension Seton and the other defendants have not yet filed a response in federal court, Dubois’ defense attorney previously stated that the plea agreement was intended to preserve resources and expedite closure. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages for violations of constitutional rights and negligence.
It is important to note that a civil lawsuit represents allegations that have not yet been proven in court, and all defendants are presumed not liable until a judgment is rendered.
Civil Litigation and Accountability
This filing marks a significant transition from criminal procedural review to civil liability adjudication. While the criminal case against the former officer concluded with a plea regarding official oppression, the federal civil suit broadens the scope of inquiry to institutional liability and the standard of care provided by the hospital during a custodial intervention. The introduction of video evidence contradicting initial security claims will likely be a focal point in establishing whether the escalation of force was justified or constituted a violation of civil rights under the color of law.
