Mississippi High Court Sides With Apartment Owner

The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied an appeal from Melissa Handy, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Jackson apartment complex where her son drowned in 2007.

On May 5, 2007, 17-year-old Ricco Handy drowned while swimming in the pool at the Bellevue Place Apartments in Jackson. The teenager and a cousin were visiting an uncle who lived at the apartments. The uncle did not accompany the two boys to the pool.

Melissa Handy sued the owner of Bellevue Place, A. Waddell Nejam.

A Hinds County judge ruled for Nejam in 2010.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-2 decision this past week, said Ricco Handy was prohibited by apartment rules from using the pool without his uncle. The court majority said he entered the pool at his own risk.