The father of Lauren Johansen, a woman murdered in Mississippi, is taking legal action against Nashville bonding companies, a GPS tracking company, and other individuals involved for $150 million over alleged failures that led to her death. According to FOX 17 News, the federal lawsuit claims that missteps by the bonding companies and others contributed to the conditions that enabled Johansen's ex-boyfriend, Bricen Rivers, to cross state lines and commit the murder.
The lawsuit stems from a July 2024 incident in which Rivers, after being released from jail, allegedly killed Johansen. He had previously been jailed for assaulting her in Nashville in December 2023. WKRN reports that Dr. Lance Johansen, Lauren's father, received a voicemail from the prosecutor’s office warning him about Rivers’ release and his violation of bond terms. "When I got the voicemail, I already knew he was coming to kill her," Dr. Johansen said. Soon after, Lauren Johansen was found deceased in the back of a car, wrapped in trash bags and blankets.
Bail bonding companies "Brooke's Bail Bonding" and "On Time Bail Bonding," along with a GPS tracking company, are accused of releasing Rivers without proper supervision or adherence to court-ordered conditions. According to WSMV, the suit alleges that the companies contributed to Rivers’ premature release, failing to ensure he paid his full bond premium and disregarding court rules.
In response to the tragedy, Lance Johansen is reportedly working on "Lauren Law", an initiative to strengthen protections for domestic violence victims. This proposed law seeks to ensure that violent domestic offenders cannot secure bond and that stricter criteria are applied to GPS monitoring. As per the FOX 17 News interview with Johansen, this federal law would be a measure to prevent future tragedies akin to what befell his daughter.
While a previous ruling in October 2024 by a Nashville judge found that the bonding companies had not broken existing rules, the lawsuit filed by Johansen seeks damages for what he deems a violation of his daughter's constitutional rights and her wrongful death. The next court date for the case is scheduled for September 9, as reported by FOX 17 News. Representatives from the involved bail bonding companies have not made public comments regarding the lawsuit.
