As the legal battle over the wrongful death of Shanquella Robinson continues, the question of jurisdiction has taken center stage. Nearly three years following her mysterious death while vacationing in Mexico, Shanquella's family seeks to have their civil lawsuit heard in the United States. Yesterday, a federal judge in Charlotte heard motions regarding whether the case against the individuals known as the "Cabo Six" should proceed domestically or be relegated to Mexico—a ruling anticipated within the next week, as reported by WBTV.
Sue-Ann Robinson, attorney for the family, argued firmly that the U.S. should be the appropriate venue for the case. In a statement obtained by WBTV, she asserted, "A United States citizen should not be allowed to go overseas, harm another U.S. citizen, and come back to the United States and essentially say that they’re off base, that they’re not going to be held liable." Meanwhile, attorneys for the defendants argue the incident occurred in Mexico and thus falls under its jurisdiction.
The family's frustration with the sluggish pace of justice was palpable, as expressed by Shanquella's father, Bernard Robinson. According to a WBTV interview, he stated, "I just want justice. I’d rather for the case to be handled here in the United States, because you came back and lied to the whole United States." The wrongful death lawsuit, seeking both justice and $100 million in damages, comes amidst allegations of a cover-up and negligence, compounded by a viral video showing Shanquella being attacked.
The case has been further complicated by conflicting reports regarding Shanquella's cause of death. Initially told by travelers that her death was due to alcohol poisoning, Mexican authorities echoed this claim. Nevertheless, an autopsy conducted stateside found her spine intact, disputing the earlier assertion that a severe spinal injury had been the cause, as referenced by WBTV. As a watchdog looking over the due process, these inconsistencies add further grievances to a family already besieged by loss.
In addition to seeking accountability from the "Cabo Six," the Robinsons have also filed a suit against the FBI and the U.S. State Department. As per WCNC, the complaint cites negligence in the investigation of Shanquella's death. With over 4,000 pages of documents and more than two hours of video yet to be thoroughly examined by the FBI, Sue-Ann Robinson criticized the federal government for the delay, telling WCNC, "The fact that they are further delaying turning over the information to the family is negligent and makes me think there is an issue involved."
