Appeals Court Overturns Decision in Lauren Agee Death Case

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has overturned a decision in the wrongful death case of Lauren Agee at Center Hill Lake.

A three-judge panel overturned Judge Jonathan Young’s decision Wednesday to grant summary judgment to Hannah Nicole Palmer, saying Young had not ruled properly in the case.

Agee was found dead at Center Hill Lake in 2015 during a camping trip with a group of friends, including Palmer. An investigation by the TBI and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office led to no charges against Palmer or the group due to insufficient evidence.

Agee’s mother, Sherry Smith, filed a wrongful death action against Palmer, alleging she and the others in the group were involved in her daughter’s death.

The Appeals Court ruled evidence provided by Smith, private detectives, current and former police officers, and a forensic specialist led to the reversal.

Palmer now has the option to appeal the court’s ruling, which would then take the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The case would return to the trial court level if Palmer does not appeal the latest ruling, or if the state Supreme Court agrees with the Appeals Court.

The panel has decided the case will continue as previously scheduled with a jury trial.