Botham Jean's Family Sues Dallas to Pay $100M Judgment

The family says the city has a moral obligation to cover the damages awarded against the former officer who killed Botham Jean.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The family of Botham Jean, who was killed by a former Dallas police officer in 2018, is now suing the city to force it to cover the nearly $100 million in damages a federal jury awarded them over a year ago. The family says the city has an 'obvious social, moral, and ethical' obligation to pay the judgment against the former officer, Amber Guyger, who was convicted of murder in 2019.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing battle between the Jean family and the city of Dallas over accountability and justice for Botham Jean's killing. The family has expressed frustration that the city has refused to take responsibility and compensate them, even after Guyger's conviction and the substantial civil judgment against her.

The details

Guyger, an off-duty Dallas police officer at the time, shot and killed Botham Jean in his own apartment in 2018, claiming she mistook his apartment for her own and thought he was a burglar. Guyger was found guilty of murder in 2019 and will be eligible for parole this year, though she was denied parole in 2024. The Jean family filed suit against Guyger and the city shortly after the shooting, but the city was later released from the case. In 2023, Botham's sister Allisa Charles-Findley expressed frustration that the city was 'still fighting us' and 'refusing to have a conversation' with the family.

  • Botham Jean was killed by Amber Guyger in 2018.
  • Guyger was convicted of murder in 2019.
  • A federal jury awarded the Jean family nearly $100 million in damages over a year ago.
  • Guyger will be eligible for parole this year, though she was denied parole in 2024.
  • The Jean family filed suit against Guyger and the city shortly after the 2018 shooting.

The players

Botham Jean

The man who was killed by former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger in his own apartment in 2018.

Amber Guyger

The former Dallas police officer who was convicted of murdering Botham Jean in 2019 and is now eligible for parole.

Allisa Charles-Findley

Botham Jean's sister, who has expressed frustration with the city of Dallas' response to her brother's killing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yes we did receive an indictment. Yes, we received a conviction. But the city of Dallas is still fighting us—to the point where it's almost disrespectful because they refuse to come to the table. They refuse to have a conversation with us. Even the current mayor has yet to have a conversation with my family. It only appears to us that they're covering for their own. They're backing their own.”

— Allisa Charles-Findley, Botham Jean's sister (dmagazine.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether the city of Dallas must cover the $100 million judgment against former officer Amber Guyger.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle for accountability and justice in the killing of Botham Jean, with the Jean family continuing to fight the city of Dallas to take responsibility and provide compensation, even after Guyger's conviction. It raises broader questions about how municipalities respond to police killings of civilians.