10:43 AM PT -- In the suit, Jerry says he personally met with the Sheriff while Brian was still in custody to explain that his son needed help for several issues ... including drug and alcohol treatment.
Lawler says he was "promised" Brian would get proper treatment for his issues which is why Jerry decided to NOT pay the money to bail him out. Lawler feels betrayed, saying the Sheriff ultimately failed to provide Brian with ANY treatment.
10:37 AM PT -- In the suit, Lawler also alleges that a correctional officer at the jail had noticed Brian in the corner of his cell with a towel over his head ... but walked past him to take out the gargabe instead of checking on him.
Lawler claims when the officer came back from his garbage run, he saw Brian in the same position and asked a coworker to help check on him. That's when they realized Brian had hanged himself and made rescue attempts.
But, even the rescue was bungled, according to Lawler who says the jail was so ill-prepared for a suicide attempt, that they only had children's scissors to cut him free.
Lawler believes if the jail was properly prepared -- and the correctional officer would have checked on Brian before taking out the trash -- Brian would be alive today.
10:30 AM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained a copy of the lawsuit filed in Tennessee, which shows Lawler is demanding $3 MILLION in damages.
In the suit, Jerry Lawler claims officials also failed to provide Brian with any treatment for his drug and alcohol issues while he was an inmate.
WWE legend Jerry Lawler thinks officials in Tennessee and a local sheriff are responsible for his son's 2018 death ... and now he's "seeking justice" in a new $3 MILLION lawsuit, TMZ Sports has confirmed.
Brian Christopher Lawler -- AKA Grandmaster Sexay -- died by hanging himself in his jail cell in July 29, 2018 following an arrest for DUI and evading police. He was only 46.
But, Jerry claims his death could have easily been prevented -- if officials would have followed proper protocol when dealing with a person they KNEW had a history of suicide attempts.
Lawler's attorney, Jeffrey Rosenblum, tells TMZ Sports ... Brian -- who suffered from depression -- told officers during his 2018 arrest that he had attempted suicide in 2013 and 2015.
But, when Christopher was put in a jail cell for the 2018 arrest, officials at the Hardeman County Sheriff's Dept. made no effort to protect him from himself, Rosenblum says.
Rosenblum says Christopher was attacked by another inmate during his confinement -- and suffered a head injury, left eye gash and a possible concussion. But, Rosenblum says officials refused to get him medical help.
Instead, Lawler was allegedly placed in solitary confinement with his shoes and shoe laces -- and the cell had two large bolts sticking out of a high point on one of the cell walls.
Lawler ultimately used his laces and the bolts to hang himself, Rosenblum says.
Before his death, Rosenblum alleges that Lawler repeatedly cried out for help and screamed that he needed to go to the hospital ... but never received the medical attention he requested.
Rosenblum says the family has filed a lawsuit in the hopes of holding officials accountable -- and any money they are awarded will go toward supporting Brian's son.
He also wants an apology from the Sheriff's Dept. and a court order "requiring Hardeman County to correct their unconstitutional deficiencies so that no other family has to go through what this family has had to endure over the past year."
As for the $3 mil, Rosenblum says that number is for compensatory damages "with an additional award of punitive damages to be determined by the jury for the benefit of Brian’s minor son."
Originally Published -- 9:56 AM PT