A federal lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Georgia alleges that multiple insurance companies, attorneys, healthcare providers, and court-appointed officials deprived a severely brain-injured woman and her guardian of their property and liberty without due process. The complaint claims these actions resulted in significant financial losses, loss of medical care, and emotional distress for both the disabled woman and her mother.
The suit was filed on March 20, 2026 by Elaine Taylor—both individually and as guardian and conservator for her adult daughter Lauren Taylor—against defendants including John Ingram; John & Stephanie Ingram LLC; American Zurich Insurance Company; ESIS Inc.; Paradigm Inc.; Shepherd Center Inc.; several attorneys; Judge Kenya Johnson; William Jenkins; Bryndis Roberts; Jenkins & Roberts LLC; Dana Ashford; and The Ashford Law Firm LLC.
According to the complaint, Lauren Taylor suffered a catastrophic brain injury on May 12, 2019 after being kicked in the head by a horse while working at a horse show. She was employed by both John Ingram’s company and Oasis Outsourcing Inc., with benefits provided by Ingram. Following the accident in South Carolina, Lauren was transported to Augusta, Georgia for emergency treatment before being moved to Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation.
Elaine Taylor initiated guardianship proceedings in Fulton County Probate Court (FCPC) in June 2019. The plaintiffs allege that immediately after this filing, defendants began undermining Elaine’s ability to advocate for Lauren’s best interests “in order to minimize their financial obligations.”
The complaint outlines a series of events where insurance carriers (referred to collectively as “Ingram/carrier”) allegedly directed medical decisions against Lauren’s interests—including compelling discharge from acute care before critical surgeries could be performed—and later suspended workers’ compensation benefits. Plaintiffs claim that disability payments were drastically reduced below what Tennessee law required: “Lauren should have received approximately $1,022 per week… She received approximately $10,000” out of an estimated $120,000 owed during one period.
The suit further alleges that representatives from insurers and healthcare facilities sought repeated suspensions of Elaine’s authority as guardian or conservator through petitions to probate court—often without proper notice or hearings—and used these temporary appointments to settle Lauren’s workers’ compensation claim for less than its value. Plaintiffs assert that these actions were taken “without jurisdiction,” failed to provide adequate notice or opportunity to be heard as required by Georgia law, and excluded both Lauren and Elaine from key decisions about medical care or settlement terms.
Plaintiffs also detail how Lauren was forcibly transferred across state lines—from Georgia to Nebraska—without valid court orders or coordination with her conservator. According to the complaint: “On November 19, 2019… [defendants] forcibly transported Lauren across multiple state lines… against Lauren’s best interests… without a court order.” They claim this move saved defendants thousands per day but left Lauren in pain without necessary therapies.
Afterward, when COVID-19 began spreading in early 2020, plaintiffs say they were pressured again—under threat that if Elaine did not take Lauren home to Missouri without proper home modifications or professional care staff (as recommended by doctors), she would be sent permanently to an Illinois facility isolated from family during lockdowns.
Throughout these events, plaintiffs allege violations under federal civil rights statutes (42 U.S.C. §1983 and §1985), claiming deprivation of due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. Supplemental state law claims include false imprisonment, conversion (trover), civil conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty (and aiding/abetting thereof), negligence per se based on violations of guardianship statutes, unjust enrichment/constructive trust theories, intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process—and requests for punitive damages where available.
The complaint states: “Defendants exploited and abused Lauren—a vulnerable individual as a member of a protected… class of disabled… persons—for financial gain…” It further alleges threats against Elaine if she challenged settlements or court orders with lawsuits or appeals.
Plaintiffs seek more than $100,000 in damages from each defendant named. They also request declaratory relief regarding past actions taken without jurisdiction or due process; prospective injunctive relief where needed; attorney fees under Section 1988; compensatory damages for lost benefits; punitive damages where applicable; restoration of control over assets including special needs trusts allegedly created improperly; reimbursement for unpaid disability benefits; coverage for required medical care/home modifications/equipment; costs incurred due to forced relocations; redress for emotional distress caused by surveillance measures implemented during hospital stays;
and other remedies outlined throughout the filing.
Attorneys named within the document include John Barringer (Manier & Herod LLC), M. Steele Cantey (Manier & Herod LLC), William Jenkins (Jenkins & Roberts LLC), Bryndis Roberts (Jenkins & Roberts LLC), Dana Ashford (The Ashford Law Firm LLC), among others involved either as parties or counsel during relevant proceedings. The case is identified as Case No.: 1:26-cv-01545-ELR.
Source: 126cv01545_Lauren_Taylor_v_John_Ingram_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
