MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis has filed a motion for a protective order in the ongoing lawsuit against the City of Memphis over the death of Tyre Nichols.
In the motion, filed Friday, Davis asks for an order that would bar “substantive discovery” against her while her motion to dismiss the lawsuit is pending and protect her from mandatory participation in mediation.
Davis was named in a $550 million lawsuit filed by Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells in April 2023. The lawsuit alleges that Memphis Police’s SCORPION Unit used “seething aggression and unjustified force” when they pulled Nichols over.
The five officers who are accused of killing Nichols are also named in the suit, along with several other city employees.
Davis filed a motion to dismiss based on the doctrine of qualified immunity in February, arguing that she was not accused of violating any rights or established laws.
Davis’ new motion asserts that she is entitled to a stay of discovery while the court considers the issue of qualified immunity. The motion also argues that Davis should not be required to attend mediation while her motion to dismiss is pending.