A Georgia jury has awarded $2.25 million in damages to a grieving couple whose newborn son was decapitated during delivery, after the pathologist hired to perform a private autopsy posted graphic videos of the infant’s body online.
Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr. sued Dr. Jackson Gates last year, accusing him of sharing multiple videos of their son Treveon Taylor Jr.’s autopsy on Instagram without their knowledge or consent.
The infant died during a traumatic delivery in July 2023. The couple has also filed a separate lawsuit against the delivering physician and the hospital, which remains ongoing.
According to court documents, Gates removed the videos after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the couple’s attorneys but reposted them shortly after. The Fulton County jury found him liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and fraud, resulting in the multi-million dollar award.
“Dr. Gates poured salt into the couple’s already deep wounds,” said attorneys for the family. “This young couple trusted him with the remains of their precious baby. He, in turn, repaid this trust by posting horrific images of their child for the world to see.”
The judgment was entered as a default after Gates failed to respond to the initial complaint in time. During the trial, however, his legal team argued that the posts were meant to educate fellow pathologists and advocate for transparency in cases of suspected medical malpractice.
“Dr. Gates is deeply sorry for any harm he unintentionally caused,” his attorney Ira Livnat said. “Had he known for one second that they would see that and recognize their child, he never would have done it.”
Despite that apology, the jury sided with the parents, finding the pathologist’s actions caused additional and avoidable trauma.
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