By FOX 13 News staff
Published September 22, 2022 8:19PM
Joneé Lewis reports
TAMPA, Fla. - The family of 14-year-old Andrew Joseph III was awarded $15 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
More than eight years after the teen was killed trying to cross I-4 after getting kicked out of the Florida State Fair, HCSO was found 90% responsible by a jury, the Joseph family attorney confirmed.
Andrew Joseph III
Andrew's mom, Deanna Joseph, said "…the truth was told, Andrew’s truth," after the verdict came down Thursday.
"I always said that Andrew would not die in vain," Deanna said. "And the reason that we engaged in this fight so hard was that we didn't want any family to ever stand in the shoes that we're standing in today."
Back on February 7, 2014, there was a commotion between several teenagers during Student Day at the State Fair. That led to 99 teens, including Andrew, being detained by Hillsborough County deputies and kicked out of the fair.
The 14-year-old's parents said they were never notified their son was kicked out, adding that their son was negligently left alone. Andrew then tried to cross I-4, but he was hit and killed by a car.
Since the tragic night, his family has been fighting for the sheriff's office to be held accountable for how things were handled. But, HCSO has repeatedly invoked qualified immunity, a law that protects officers from civil suits and also keeps information from being released.
HCSO's latest appeal in 2021 was denied, which gave the Joseph family the break they were looking for.
After the wrongful death lawsuit was filed, the case headed to federal court Monday. The jury came back Thursday, awarding the family $15 million.