According to reports, New York City authorities continue their fight to publicly disclose the cause and manner of death of Zachery Tims, the former senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) in Apopka, Fla. Tims’ August death remains a mystery to the public as the legal battle between the minister’s family and the City continues.
The lawyers representing New York City and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) claimed in paperwork filed Friday, Jan. 27 that the minister’s mother, Madeline Tims, acting as the representative of Tims’ estate, has no legal standing to prevent officials from releasing the information on the cause of the pastor’s death.
The medical examiner’s office had planned to publicly disclose the minister’s cause and manner of death months ago, but was prevented from doing so when Tims’ family sued in October to keep that information private. In December, Manhattan State Supreme Court Judge Cynthia S. Kern ruled the medical examiner’s office has legal standing the to release Tims’ cause of death, as there is no specific law prohibiting it from doing so. In response, on Jan. 11, Madeline Tims appealed Kern’s decision, therefore temporarily preventing the City from making that information public.
In its Friday filing, the City asked the court for the right to reveal the information nevertheless. The lawyers argued that the minister’s mother is “not likely” to succeed in her appeal. The City also argued that the court was correct in acknowledging the medical examiner’s right to disclose the information, and that Madeline Tims’ appeal was “improper.”
In addition, the City’s lawyers highlighted Madeline Tims’ own statement acknowledging that her son was a public figure, which is the primary reason officials seek to disclose information regarding his cause of death.
“There is a strong public policy in favor of disclosure by the OCME of the cause and manner of death of Tims, as well as of others, as the Medical Examiner is charged by law with the responsibility of investigating and determining the cause of death of persons who die in unusual circumstances,” the City’s lawyers argued in the Friday filing.
During a previous hearing, Tims’ mother admitted that releasing the cause of his death could potentially embarrass his family, which led further speculation that drugs may have been involved.
Paula White, another popular and charismatic pastor in Florida, replaced late Tims as senior pastor at NDCC in January.
DO YOU THINK IT’S TIME TO LET TIMS REST IN PEACE? OR DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW?
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alicia anderson
February 1, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Yes we need to know what really happend and why and we need to know Now! and if it was indeed criminal…… and we need closure.
Ms. Cooper
February 1, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Yes, we need to know. He was human which means that he was not perfect. We all have some closet flaws and they too will someday come to light.
Jackie
February 1, 2012 at 11:20 PM
I believe the privacy of the family should be respected. People only want to know the sensationalism of his death. Give the family rest and allow them to grieve. All else is in the Lord’s hands. Knowing the cause of death will not change anything. He was a mere man, trying to do the work of the Lord. Who is without sin, cast the first stone…
Ann
February 2, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Everyone knows, they have revealed so many others before him, and there will be others. There are no respecter of persons. The family will be fine, nobody is perfect. ALL HAVE SIN!!!!
Mike
February 3, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I agree with Jackie, respect the wishes of the family. Why do we need to know the cuase of death. Can someone answer this question, how will it benefit us? As has been stated, we all are human. With that being said, it’s really none of our business. I believe if we mind our owe house and stay out of others then our world would be a better place.