Federal judge narrows Brown family lawsuit against Ferguson

Lesley McSpadden, (L) and Michael Brown senior (R) the parents of Michael Brown, listen as family attorney Daryl Parks announce they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Ferguson and former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, in Ferguson,Missouri on March 5, 2015. Photo courtesy Missourinet

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge has narrowed a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Brown Jr. against the city of Ferguson, Missouri, its former police chief and the ex-police officer who fatally shot the black 18-year-old.

U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber on Tuesday dismissed four of the seven counts from the suit filed in April.

He told lawyers for Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden that they must make a more persuasive claim for damages on behalf of their late adult child. Brown’s parents didn’t attend the two-hour hearing in St. Louis.

The lawsuit was filed in St. Louis County Court but moved to federal court at the defense’s request.

Webber says he dismissed two “redundant” counts against former Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson and former Officer Darren Wilson.