NATCHEZ — A federal lawsuit filed by the family of Dr. Lynn Palmer, alleges her husband Marshall Hawkins intentionally caused her death by poisoning.

The suit also asks that Hawkins be disqualified from receiving Palmer’s life insurance benefits.

Carlton Reeves, the Palmer’s family attorney, said Hawkins was served with notice of the suit last week.

“The suit speaks for itself,” he said.

Palmer died unexpectedly on July 13 at a hospital in Jackson.

The cause of Palmer’s death was initially listed as bacterial septicemia, but the results from her autopsy have not been made public.

The suit was filed on June 13.