The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has granted a motion by Dominique Watson to amend her complaint regarding the suicide of her husband, Giovanni Love, while he was in custody at the Central Detention Facility (CDF). Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled on the motion on October 20, 2026, allowing Watson to add Corporal Sunday Samuel Akanbi as a defendant. This decision is significant as it may affect how similar cases involving inmate deaths are handled in the future.

Watson, who is representing herself and the estate of Love, originally filed her complaint in June 2023, naming the District of Columbia and Unity Health Care, Inc. as defendants. The case arose after Love died by suicide on June 9, 2022, while incarcerated at CDF. Watson claims that the staff at CDF, including Akanbi, failed to provide adequate mental health care to her husband, who had expressed suicidal thoughts prior to his death.

Background

The dispute centers around the circumstances leading to Love's death. Watson alleges that CDF staff removed Love from suicide precautions and placed him in a cell where he could access items to harm himself. She claims that despite Love expressing his suicidal thoughts and self-harming behavior, staff, including Akanbi, did not take the necessary actions to protect him.

After Love's death, an internal investigation was conducted by the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC). The investigation revealed that Love had communicated his suicidal intentions to staff, including an officer identified as “A.K.” During the investigation, Watson learned that “A.K.” was actually Corporal Akanbi. However, the District of Columbia did not disclose Akanbi's identity until years later, leading to Watson's difficulty in pursuing legal action against him.

The Ruling

In her ruling, Judge Howell granted Watson’s motion to amend the complaint to include Akanbi as a defendant. The court noted that Watson had been unable to identify Akanbi until recently due to the District's lack of cooperation in providing information about the staff at CDF. Judge Howell stated, “The delay in identifying Corporal Akanbi was a result of the District’s failure to disclose his identity in a timely manner.”

The court acknowledged that Watson's proposed claims against Akanbi included allegations of deliberate indifference under the Fifth Amendment and negligence under D.C. law. Judge Howell emphasized that the amendment was necessary to ensure that all responsible parties were held accountable for their actions leading up to Love's tragic death.

Impact

This ruling has broader implications for cases involving inmate suicides and the responsibilities of correctional facilities. By allowing Watson to amend her complaint, the court reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability in the treatment of inmates, particularly those expressing suicidal ideation. It also sets a precedent that correctional officers can be held personally liable for their actions, which may influence how similar cases are handled in the future.

Furthermore, the ruling highlights the need for correctional facilities to have clear protocols in place for addressing mental health issues among inmates. The decision may encourage other inmates or their families to pursue legal action if they believe that their rights have been violated due to inadequate mental health care.

What's Next

With the court's decision, Watson will move forward with her amended complaint, which now includes Akanbi as a defendant. The District of Columbia may choose to appeal this ruling, but details on any potential appeal were not available in the court filing. The case is expected to continue as Watson seeks justice for her husband's death.