Prison / Jail
Zakora v. Chrisman
Plaintiff sufficiently alleged subjective prong of claim under 8th Amendment for failure to protect prisoner from widespread presence of drugs at state prison, based on claim that prisoner’s risk of death from fentanyl was obvious to warden, warden’s assistant, and two inspectors, because in days immediately preceding prisoner’s death two other prisoners in unit of 12 -16 prisoners had overdosed.
Morgan by Morgan v. Wayne Co., Mich
State inmate who suffered from severe mental health conditions had intercourse with another inmate which she stated was not consensual and was impregnated; claim subject to 8th amendment, not 14th amendment standard; deputies not deliberately indifferent and thus not liable for deputy’s leaving co-ed housing unit for inmates suffering from mental health conditions to use restroom; county not liable for failure to prevent sexual encounter, no authority for proposition that it violated 8th amendment not to house men and women separately.
Osy Vaughan v. Prison Psychiatrist
$5.25M verdict for prisoner’s wrongful death, due to psychiatrist prescribing medication without examination, causing adverse reaction and death. Also, medical staff were unqualified and corrections officers were deliberately indifferent to prisoner’s sickness. Verdict represented $2M conscious pain and suffering; $3M punitive damages against psychiatrist; and interest; plus additional $600k pre-trial settlement with jail staff.
Tyree v. Santa Clara County
31 y.o. mentally ill man, beaten to death by corrections officers in jail. Three officers charged with murder. Decedent’s 7y.o. daughter received 85% of settlement, and sisters received 15%.
Hobson v. Lake County
Mentally ill man, afraid to drink anything but bottled water, allowed to die of dehydration in jail; neglect of his serious psychiatric needs; survived by his mother.
Coleman v. City of Chicago
38 y.o., disruptive, mentally ill man, dragged from jail cell, beaten, and repeatedly Tased to death; survived by parents.