Eric Mays’ son sues Flint mayor, officials over late Councilman’s life insurance policy

Flint, MI— Eric Mays’ son has filed a lawsuit against Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Flint City Attorney William Kim and Flint Human Resources Director Eddie Smith on Friday, March 8, 2024.

The lawsuit alleges that Kim and Smith have refused to provide Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays and his attorney, John A. Fernandez of the Lento Law Group, with a copy of his father’s life insurance policy with the city.

The suit also contends that Kim and Smith actions were based on instructions from Neeley. 

Fernandez said in a statement that the city is wrongfully denying Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays access to the city’s life insurance policy on his father, “preventing him from applying for the insurance proceeds to which he is entitled as the named beneficiary on the policy.”

The suit states that Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays, the plaintiff, demands a jury trial. 

In a March 8 statement, Kim said the City of Flint has not yet been served with a lawsuit.

“Based on the prior lawsuits that have been filed by the Lento Law Group against the City of Flint and its officials, we expect to seek, at minimum, dismissal of this action as frivolous at the earliest possible opportunity,” Kim said.

Smith said in a March 8 statement to Flint Beat that Mays never designated a beneficiary for his life insurance policy provided by the city.

“Under the applicable city benefit policies, ‘in the event no beneficiary is designated, the policy will be payable to the employee’s estate,’” Smith stated. “A personal representative of the late councilman’s estate must be designated by the probate court in order for the city to effectuate payment, and to date, the city has not received any documentation showing that this has occurred.”

Mays, who was a third-term councilman, died on Feb. 24, 2024. He was 65.

Eric HaKeem Deontaye Mays is currently in a legal battle with his family members and Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home over the right to have control over his father’s remains and funeral arrangements. 

The City of Flint is asking the community to honor Mays with a moment of silence on March 9 from noon to 12:01 p.m.