A Charlotte woman tied to the group often dubbed the "Cabo 6" is asking a North Carolina judge to toss the wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Shanquella Robinson, putting the long-running legal fight back in the spotlight and reigniting the tug-of-war over where the case belongs.
E'mani Green, who previously went by Daejhanae Jackson, filed a new motion this week that renews a push she first made in July 2024 and denies any wrongdoing, arguing she acted in self-defense, according to WCNC. In the filing, she asks the court to either dismiss the case outright or move it, contending that the key events took place in Mexico during the 2022 trip to Cabo San Lucas.
Federal Claims Dropped, Case Lands Back in State Court
The case has already taken a winding path through the courts. A federal judge dismissed the Robinson family's federal claims against the FBI and U.S. State Department and in late January sent the remaining state-law claims back to Mecklenburg County Superior Court, narrowing the matter to state causes of action, according to WSOC. That ruling left the dispute over wrongful death and related allegations to be decided under North Carolina law rather than in federal court.
Mexico Probe and Autopsy Findings
On the criminal side, Mexican authorities have labeled Robinson's death a femicide and issued an arrest warrant in the case. The Mexican autopsy cited severe spinal cord injury and a dislocated neck as the cause of death, according to ABC News. A video that surfaced after Robinson's death appeared to show her being beaten inside the villa, fueling outrage and helping trigger the separate criminal investigation in Mexico.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
In the civil case, the Robinson family's complaint accuses Green of launching a brutal attack on Robinson, alleging she "punched Robinson in the face, head, neck and other parts of her body while Robinson was naked and unable to defend herself," as reported by WCNC. The new motion revisits earlier arguments that the case should be dismissed or relocated, and WCNC reports Green is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.
Legal Stakes in North Carolina
The lawsuit's remaining counts include wrongful death, negligence, battery, conspiracy and emotional distress under North Carolina law, according to Black Enterprise. How the judge rules on jurisdiction and venue will largely determine whether the family's civil claims get a full airing in a Mecklenburg County courtroom or are cut short by dismissal or transfer.
The Robinson family filed the wrongful-death suit in October 2024, and since then the case has bounced between state and federal court as defendants push for various dismissals, local reporting shows. The civil battle is expected to continue even as Mexican authorities pursue their own criminal investigation, according to WBTV. For now, the family's bid for damages in North Carolina and Mexico's ongoing probe are moving forward on separate but closely watched tracks.
