FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Hall & Dixon Files 19-Count Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit on Behalf of Parents of 6-Year-Old Ariana Camm Baldwin Alleging Official Cover-Up in Child’s Death

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – Hall & Dixon, PLLC, a Charlotte-based civil rights and litigation law firm, has filed a 19-count federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Dee Camm Washington and Travis Baldwin, the parents of six-year-old Ariana Camm Baldwin, alleging a coordinated cover-up by local and state authorities in connection with their daughter’s death. The lawsuit was filed early this morning in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina by Ronard “R.J.” Dixon, Jr., Managing Partner of Hall & Dixon.

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The complaint names four defendants: Gaston County, North Carolina; the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; CaroMont Regional Medical Center; and the Dallas Fire and Rescue Department. The lawsuit asserts violations of federal civil rights statutes, including conspiracy claims, along with related state law causes of action.

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A press conference hosted by the family’s legal team will be held today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 10:20 a.m. at Marshall Park in Charlotte, located at 800 East Third Street, at the base of the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue. At precisely 10:39 a.m., representatives of the family will distribute hard copies of the court-stamped complaint, marking the exact time Ms. Washington was informed of her daughter’s death in May 2024.

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Hall & Dixon is leading the litigation, with federal civil rights attorney Amos N. Jones of the Amos Jones Law Firm in Washington, D.C. serving as co-counsel. The family is also supported by national civil rights advocate John C. Barnett, Founder of the Charlotte-based True Healing Under God Civil Rights Group.

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According to the lawsuit, Ariana’s death was officially ruled a drowning despite medical records and physical evidence indicating severe trauma inconsistent with that conclusion. The complaint alleges that authorities falsified records, suppressed evidence, denied the family access to investigative materials, and closed the case without a meaningful review of medical documentation.

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“These actions were not errors or negligence,” said Ms. Washington. “They were deliberate acts that deprived our family of due process and equal protection under the law.”

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“Ariana’s medical records tell the truth,” said Mr. Baldwin. “They show trauma, not drowning. This lawsuit is about forcing accountability when the system fails a child.”

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In addition to monetary damages, the lawsuit seeks systemic accountability and institutional reform to prevent similar failures in future investigations involving children.

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At today’s press conference, Ariana’s parents will deliver brief remarks in honor of their daughter, followed by a legal briefing from counsel. Members of the media will then have the opportunity to ask questions.

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Media Contact:
Hall & Dixon, PLLC
Charlotte, North Carolina