BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A judge has set a trial date for the lawsuit against multiple DHR employees and their codefendants for the death of three-year-old Ketorrius “K.J.” Starkes.

Now that a trial date has been set for next October, attorneys for Starkes' family will begin discovery – which means they will request documentation from DHR. They will also begin depositions with all of the defendants named in the lawsuit.

The three-year-old, known affectionately by his family as K.J., died in July after police say a DHR contracted transporter working for Covenant Services left him in a hot car for hours. Thursday, a judge ruled to deny four motions asking for both DHR employees and Covenant Services to be dismissed from the lawsuit.

Attorney Michael Petway is representing the Starkes fa

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