California Jail Faces 6th Wrongful Death Lawsuit Since 2021

The family of a man who died by suicide at the Monterey County Jail has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and the jail. It is the 6th such wrongful death lawsuit filed against the jail since March of 2021. An attorney representing the family said the death of the 47-year-old inmate was preventable and jail staff failed to provide needed medical care in violation of the 14th Amendment.

In July 2023, the victim was arrested for acting erratically at his home while high on methamphetamine. Neutral monitor reports indicate that the victim was suicidal when he arrived at the jail. Deputies placed the victim in a holding cell. A few minutes after entering the cell, he wrapped a mounted payphone cord around his neck. Deputies found his body about an hour later.

The neutral monitor report, filed by unaffiliated doctors, mental health care professionals, and jail operations experts, is a part of the settlement of the Hernandez class action lawsuit. These reports indicate that the victim should have been enrolled in a program for methamphetamine withdrawal. Staff should have also referred him for immediate psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization for his suicidal ideation. This would have prevented the victim from taking his own life. The entire suicide was also captured on video, but it’s unclear if anyone was watching.

The family has named Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto, Wellpath, a private health care provider, and others in their wrongful death lawsuit. The 6 wrongful death lawsuits are being pursued in court. Hearings and trials related to these deaths are likely to continue through 2025.

Another attorney represented 5 families of individuals who died in Monterey County Jail between 2013 and 2019. She and her co-counsel were able to obtain $9 million in total judgments and settlements for the families.

Wellpath is out of compliance in at least 43 areas 

A totally separate matter from the wrongful death lawsuits alleges that Wellpath is out of compliance in at least 43 areas at the jail. These include providing mental health care, clinical staffing, medical intake screenings, and chronic care. Wellpath is facing sanctions of $25,000 for each of the areas where they are out of compliance.

A federal court gave Wellpath until August to fix their problems. They will either fix the problems at the jail or be fined $1 million for various violations of police and state law.

Duty of care for jails 

All jails and prisons have a duty of care to ensure the inmates have access to needed medical care. This includes recent intakes who are high on meth at the time of their arrival. In this case, despite being suicidal, the inmate was left alone to kill himself on camera.

Talk to an Oakland, CA Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

Venardi Zurada represents the interests of grieving families who have lost loved ones due to preventable death and negligence. Call our Oakland personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your claims right away.

Source:

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