California Jail Sued Over Death of Inmate

A California jail is facing its sixth wrongful death lawsuit since March of 2021. The most recent lawsuit was filed by the family of a man who died by suicide in the Monterey County Jail. An attorney representing the family said that the death of the decedent was entirely preventable and that jail staff failed to provide medical care in violation of the 14th Amendment.

According to the lawsuit, the decedent was arrested after acting erratically at his home while under the influence of methamphetamine. Neutral monitor reports, which were sealed by Monterey County jail until last year, show that the decedent was suicidal when he arrived at the jail. Deputies placed the decedent in a holding cell. A few minutes after entering the cell, the decedent wrapped a mounted payphone cord around his neck. Deputies found his body about an hour later.

The neutral monitor report, which was filed by unaffiliated doctors, mental health care professionals, and jail operations experts as part of the settlement of a separate class-action lawsuit, said the decedent should have been enrolled in a program for methamphetamine withdrawal. It further says that staff should have referred him for immediate psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization for his suicidal ideation. The neutral monitor report contends that staff should have intervened to stop his death. The entire incident was recorded on video. It’s not clear if anyone was watching.

The lawsuit names Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto, private healthcare provider Wellpath, and others.

The six wrongful death lawsuits filed against the jail are currently being pursued in court. Hearings from these trials are likely to continue through 2025.

Elements of negligence 

The plaintiffs maintain that the jail failed in its duty of care to maintain either its own policies or the bare minimum of effort to monitor newly housed jail inmates. In this case, an independent medical report indicates the many failures that the jail committed that resulted in the death of this inmate. The report details what jail officials should have done to ensure that this particular individual did not die while incarcerated. It also indicates that jail officials were aware that the inmate was suicidal at the time he was booked.

Ultimately, jails are responsible for the well-being of inmates. They must ensure that they are given appropriate medical care upon entry. In this case, several individuals who were monitoring the situation dropped the ball.

His family is one of 6 others who have current wrongful death lawsuits pending against the jail.

Talk to an Oakland, CA Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

The Oakland personal injury attorneys at Venardi Zurada represent the interests of grieving families in wrongful death lawsuits filed against negligent parties. Call our office today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin discussing how you could recover damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.

Source:

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