The family of Iryna Zarutska has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and its private transit security contractor, Professional Police Services Inc. (PSS). The suit, filed one year after Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) light-rail train, alleges "systemic failures" and inadequate security measures left the transit system vulnerable.
According to the complaint, no security guard was present on the Lynx Blue Line train at the time of the Aug. 22, 2025, attack. Zarutska's family and estate are represented by attorney Lauren Newton, who stated that the lawsuit demonstrates "systemic failures that have been within the CATS system for years that the city has been aware of."
"If there had been a security guard on that train, Iryna Zarutska would be here," Newton told WBTV. The lawsuit claims PSS failed to adequately staff and deploy armed and unarmed personnel as per its contract with Charlotte. The contract for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 provided funding for 219 security personnel, but PSS had reportedly hired only 183 at the time of the incident. Furthermore, the suit alleges PSS was authorized to employ up to 39 armed guards but had only 11.
The legal action also targets fare enforcement, asserting that Zarutska's accused killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., rode CATS transportation without paying prior to the attack. The complaint states there were no physical barriers to prevent non-ticketed individuals from accessing the light rail, and that "there’s been literally no fare enforcement." Newton described these basic measures as necessary for safety.
The lawsuit further alleges that both Charlotte and PSS knew or should have known about previous criminal activity at the Blue Line and its stations before Zarutska's death. "Violent crime was absolutely foreseeable," Newton stated.
The estate's claims include wrongful death due to allegedly negligent and inadequate security, and gross negligence. Damages exceeding $25,000 and punitive damages against PSS are being sought, though not against the city of Charlotte. Charlotte officials have stated they do not comment on active litigation, and PSS had not responded to requests for comment. The family has expressed a desire to prevent similar tragedies from befalling other loved ones.