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The Death of Tim Burlison

 

The Death of Tim Burlison

By:
Bob Watkins

A high speed chase Friday night ended in the death of a Lewis County teenager. James Timothy Burlison, 18, was pronounced dead at Lewis Community Hospital. An autopsy revealed Burlison had died of asphyxiation.

Shortly before midnight Friday, June 8, 1990, Sheriff Doil Hinson and members of the Lewis County Sheriff's Department heard and observed an auto traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 20 East. Members of the department pursued the vehicle approximately 10 to 12 miles before Burlison lost control of his vehicle, spun around in the road and stopped on the shoulder, stated Sheriff Hinson.

Burlison proceeded to jump out the car window on the passenger side and run through the woods. The Sheriff and several Deputies followed him on foot. Approximately 45 minutes later, the Deputies located him and placed Burlison in the patrol car, reported sheriff Hinson. Burlison was then taken to Lewis Community Hospital for a blood alcohol test. He is believed to have stopped breathing about the time arrived at the hospital, stated Sheriff Hinson. The hospital staff administered CPR and other life saving techniques, but were unable to revive him.

Burlison's family was disturbed at some of the bruises and cuts found on the teen and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate. Burlison's body was taken to Nashville for an autopsy. Dr. Harlan, pathologist who performed the autopsy, reported that Burlison had died of asphyxiation after choking on his own vomit. Harlan also stated there was no sign of a beating or rough treatment by the Sheriff's Department.

Funeral services for Burlison were conducted at 2p.m. June 11, 1990 at McDonald Funeral Home. Kyle Conner officiated at the service with burial in Baugus Cemetery.

A native of Nashville, he was a son of Charlie Thomas Burlison of Lewis County and Marlane Slayton Burlison of Gallatin. He was a construction worker.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include three brothers, Steven Burlison, Summertown, Dennis Burlison, Mr. Pleasant, and Thomas Burlison, Hohenwald, two sisters, Kimberly Burlison, Summertown and Dorothy Brown, Hohenwald; and maternal grandparents, Bill and Lillie Slayton of Gallatin.

Bob Watkins
The Grass Roots News
June, 1990

CARY W. PULLIAM, M. D.
VASCULAR SURGERY - GENERAL SURGERY
1222 TROTWOOD AVENUE - SUITE 408
COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE 38401
(615) 388-6256

March 11, 1991

Medical Report on James Timothy Burlison

Gentlemen:

I have thoroughly reviewed the case of the death of James Timothy Burlison. I would like to summarize the findings after review of all of the medical records, x-rays and photographs involving the case,

First, I would like to comment on the photographs. The photographs plainly reveal that the patient had evidence for significant trauma to the face, probably from a blunt object. Additionally, he also shows a significant contusion and abrasion to the left lower chest and flank area. Multiple scratches and abrasions are present as well. He also has handcuff marks around the wrists, as well as evidence of dried blood and gastric contents coming from the left corner of the mouth.

Second, I reviewed the timing of the incident, including the fact that Mr. Burlison was apparently apprehended about 11:54 p.m. At 1:00 a.m. it was radioed that he was being taken to the Lewis County Hospital. At 1:12 a.m. he was found not to be breathing and summoned help from the Emergency Room. The patient physically arrived in the Emergency Room at 1:20 a.m. He was noted, on arrival, in the Emergency Room, to have no respiration, pulse or blood pressure. He was noted to have a cyanotic head, neck and chest. He was noted to have a large amount of emesis with a strong odor of alcohol. It is not noted at what time this episode of losing consciousness and vomiting actually occurred.

Review of the Emergency Room records reveals the patient was essentially dead upon arrival. Review of the EKG shows no cardiac activity. Post mortum chest x-ray was performed, which demonstrated a greater than 50% pneumothorax on the left. There was shift to the mediastinum and shift of the trachea to the right, consistent with a tension pneumothorax. Spine films were normal. Laboratory work demonstrated a blood alcohol of .19 mg. per desoliter by the TBI Crime Laboratory.

Review of the autopsy totally ignores the fact that the patient had a pneumothorax. He was noted to have a contusion of the left lobe of the lung.

My conclusion, after reviewing these pieces of information, suggests that the patient actually, most likely died of trauma to the left chest, probably by a blunt object, producing a pneumothorax with component of tension. This, of course, would have lead to loss of consciousness and would have made aspiration much more likely. The patient was noted to be wide awake and actually combative when confronted by the officers and certainly was awake enough to run to the woods. I find if very unusual that he would be to the point of intoxication to lose consciousness at this blood alcohol level with his history of chronic ethanol usage.

Additionally, it is highly likely that the patient sustained total cardiopulmonary arrest well before his arrival at the Emergency Room, probably by a period of 15 to 20 minutes; given the fact that he had no electrical activity recorded by electrocardiogram upon arrival in the Emergency Room.

Sincerely, Cary W. Pulliam, M.D.
Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery

In Surgery and Vascular Surgery
CWP:dac

#12 Interrogatory

  1. Dr. George L. Kirkham, 160 Bellamy Bldg., School of Criminology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306

  2. See "A" above.

  3. Law Enforcement Standards and Procedures.

  4. Please see attached professional vita.

  5. Dr. Kirkham will testify that Deputies Staggs and Hinson failed to follow proper police procedures with respect to the securing and transportation of persons in custody. The aforementioned deputies also failed to adequately monitor and observe James Burlison during the transportation process, notwithstanding the obvious risk to Mr. Burlison as a consequence of his intoxicated condition. In addition to these violations of nationally accepted law enforcement standards and procedures, sheriff's department personnel failed to initiate reasonable and timely first aid procedures on the person James Burlison. The sheriff's department personnel were inadequately trained and supervised with respect to the discharge of their duties in this type of eminently foreseeable field situation.

  6. See "E" above.

Dr Kirkham's opinions and conclusions in this matter are predicated upon a thorough familiarity with prevailing law enforcement standards and procedures throughout the United States, his formal education and training, and his own past and on-going experience as a line law enforcement officer.

Peter M. Macaluso, M D, MSc.
-- Diplomate/Certification --
Addiction Medicine
Family Medicine
Quality Assurance/Utilization Review
1541 Medical Dr, Ste. 200
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(904) 878-0304

 

April 11, 1991

Mr. Richard T. Matthews
Matthews & Tisher
The Matthews Building, Suite 300
102 W. Seventy Street
Columbia, Tennessee 38402-1952

RE: Burlison vs. Hinson, et al

Dear Mr. Matthews:

At your request I have undertaken a preliminary review of the above captioned case in order to determine the factors surrounding the death of James T. Burlison and in particular whether acute alcohol ingestion was a causative factor in his death. I have reviewed various documents regarding this case. These include:

  1. A fact summary concerning the death of James T. Burlison.
  2. The medical records of James T. Burlison including x-rays dated 6/9/90 and an autopsy report dated 8/17/90.
  3. Report of Dr. Cary Pulliam.
  4. Copies of miscellaneous photographs.
  5. Lewis County Sheriff's deputies' reports regarding the arrest and death of James T. Burlison.
Among the factors that I considered in arriving at my opinions are:

  1. James T. Burlison had a history of alcohol abuse.
  2. James T. Burlison and three friends consumed one pint of whiskey and an 8-pack of beer on the night preceding his death. This was consumed from approximately 6:00 PM to approximately 10:00 PM.
  3. Timothy Burlison had no alcohol after 10:00 PM on the night preceding his death.
  4. Betewwn 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM James T. Burlison drank two glasses of milk and one glass of Dr. Pepper.
  5. At approximately 11:30 PM on the night prior to his death individuals that were with James T. Burlison state that at that time he was "not drunk".
  6. Shortly after midnight on June 9, 1990 James T. Burlison was apprehended by Lewis County Sheriff's deputies T. Hinson, L. Staggs, B. Staggs and Sheriff D. Hinson, arrested and handcuffed with his arms behind his back. He was placed in the back seat of a patrol car in a prone position with his head turned towards the front of the police patrol car.
  7. At 1:00 AM on 6/9/90 Lewis County Sheriff's deputies B. Staggs and T. Hinson began to transport James T. Burlison to Lewis County Hospital for the purpose of obtaining a blood alcohol test. They subsequently arrived at the hospital at 1:12 AM.
  8. Upon arrival at Lewis County Hospital Lewis County Sheriff's deputy T. Hinson discovered that James T. Burlison was not breathing and summoned emergency room personnel for assistance.
  9. At 1;20 AM on June 5, 1990 James T. Burlison was formally admitted to the emergency room and the emergency room personnel obtained a history that James T. Burlison "vomited in transport car prior to arrival at the hospital - lost consciousness during transfer to hospital".
  10. Upon arrival at the emergency room the emergency room personnel noted that James T. Burlison was in full cardiac and respiratory arrest, was cyanotic about the head, chest and neck and without a pulse or respiration. They also noted a strong odor of alcohol and were unable to intubate due to copious emesis (2000 cc+) which was aspirated from his mouth and stomach.
  11. Upon examination by the emergency room personnel James T. Burlison was found to have multiple traumas wounds consisting of multiple vertical scratches and scrapes over his chest and abdomen along with broken skin over both wrists.
  12. Upon subsequent examination in the hospital James T. Burlison was found to have no electrical activity on electrocardiogram. X-ray examination revealed a significant pneumothorax on the left with collapse of the left lung centrally and a hazy pacification of the entire right lung field.
  13. Autopsy examination of James T. Burlison revealed multiple abrasions of the nose, chin, right flank, left buttock, left knee, anterior left shin and the medial aspect of both ankles. There were also multiple superficial linear skin abrasions, flank, parallel curvilinear abrasions and contusions about the wrist and an abrasion of the posterior left lateral chest. There was also a pale blue discoloration of the upper eyelid and a puncture wound present on the dorsal aspect of the right wrist. Autopsy examination also revealed a contusion of the left lung lower lobe and a blood-alcohol content of 0.218 grams percent (0.17 grams percent - TBI).
After careful review and analysis of the above captioned records in this case it is my preliminary expert opinion that:

  1. James T. Burlison suffered significant trauma prior to his death. This trauma was of a significant magnitude as to produce a left-sided tension pneumothorax and a contusion of the left lower lobe of his lung.
  2. James T. Burlison died from an acute cardiopulmonary arrest which was secondary to the aspiration of gastric contents and acute trauma to the left posterior lateral chest wall which produced a significant tension pneumothorax and a contusion of the left lower lobe of the lung.
  3. James T. Burlison's acute cardiopulmonary arrest was not directly precipitated by his blood-alcohol content.
  4. James T. Burlison was within a reasonable degree of medical probability dead at least ten to twenty minutes prior to arriving at Lewis County Hospital's Emergency Room.
  5. Within a reasonable degree of medical probability James T. Burlison either developed unconsciousness secondary to the trauma he received and subsequently aspirated his gastric contents resulting in an acute cardiopulmonary arrest or James T. Burlison remained conscious after suffering significant trauma to his chest wall and lungs, panicked and struggled for air as a result of his acute tension pneumothorax and subsequently vomited his gastric contents and underwent an acute cardio-pulmonary arrest.
  6. Based with a reasonable degree of medical probability if the latter was the case, James T. Burlison was mechanically prevented from expelling his vomitus in the normal physio-mechanical manner.
These opinions are based within a reasonable probability of medical certainty and represent my initial analysis of this most interesting case. If you desire a further elaboration on these opinions, I would be more than willing to assist you.

Sincerely yours,

Peter M. Macaluso, M.D., MSc.

PMM/bk

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