• $3.25 million settlement for young woman declared dead, then found breathing
• Emergency services accused of negligence

Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, agreed to a $3.25 million settlement with the family of a young woman who had been declared dead at home but was found breathing when her body bag was opened at a funeral home.

Emergency crews in Southfield were accused of gross negligence in handling Timesha Beauchamp after a 911 call in 2020. The 20-year-old, who had cerebral palsy, was later taken to a hospital and died two months afterward.

Southfield stated: "We recognize that no settlement can undo the profound tragedy of August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family. This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances amid the global pandemic."

Beauchamp struggled to breathe when her family called 911. The medical team attempted resuscitation and consulted a doctor, who declared her dead over the phone without visiting the home.

Later that day, the funeral home opened the body bag and found Beauchamp breathing. She was rushed to a hospital but did not recover.

"She was put in a situation she never should have been in," said Steven Hurbis, attorney for Beauchamp’s family, adding that medical experts confirmed she would have survived if taken immediately to the hospital.

Southfield tried to dismiss the lawsuit citing governmental immunity, but the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned that decision in 2024.

Southfield’s fire chief had previously suggested Beauchamp’s case might be an example of "Lazarus syndrome," referring to people who return to life without assistance after resuscitation attempts fail.