NATCHEZ — A motion filed in April by Marshall Hawkins’ attorney has the potential to make Hawkins’ wrongful death suit go away.

Hawkins’ motion for summary judgment essentially asks the judge over the case to find that no valid issues have been raised, and it asks the judge to rule in favor of the defense.

Hawkins’ motion was made in relation to the civil suit filed against him in June 2008, which alleges he caused the death of his wife, Lynn Palmer.

Members of Palmer’s family allege Hawkins intentionally caused Palmer’s death by poisoning.

While neither Hawkins nor his attorney could be reached for comment, an attorney representing the Palmer family said it’s common for such motions to be filed.

“It’s something we expected, it isn’t a surprise,” Attorney Tim Dudley said of the filing.

However no ruling has been made over the motion.

U.S. District Court Judge David Bramlette, who will preside over the trial, has set no time table to rule on the motion, a representative from his office said.

Dudley said aside from a ruling on the motion and three more witnesses to be deposed, he’s ready for trial.

While no dates have been set, the case is scheduled to be heard in Natchez in either late September or early October.

In July of 2007 Palmer was found ill working on her Adams County farm and taken to Natchez Community Hospital.

She was later taken to a Jackson hospital where she died on July 13.

The cause of her death was said to be bacterial septicemia.