Man commits suicide in jail: Inadequate supervision, care: Wrongful death: Judgment

Law Reporter, Oct 2003

CIVIL RIGHTS

Greiner v. Black Hawk County, U.S. Dist. Ct., E.D. Iowa, No. C-00-2008-EJM, Mar. 24, 2003.

Price, 32, was an inmate in a county jail. Price, who had a history of mental illness and had attempted suicide before, hanged himself while in the jail. Price is survived by his three minor children.

Price's estate filed suit against the county and its sheriff under 42 U.S.C. [sec] 1983. Plaintiff alleged that the jail failed to give Price a psychological evaluation in spite of his history of mental illness and suicidal tendencies, and refused him medical care and access to a psychologist or psychiatrist when he asked for it. Defendants argued that Price was solely responsible for his death.

Defendants made an offer of judgment for $300,000, which plaintiff accepted. The sheriff paid $250,000 and the county paid $50,000.

Plaintiff's experts were Ken Katsaris, jail practices, Tallahassee, Fla.; Ken Koson, psychiatry, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Priscilla Lynch, prison healthcare, Joliet, Ill.

Defendants' experts were Margaret Severson, mental health/social work, Kansas City, Kan.; Richard Kent Larsen, psychiatry, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Susan Bloome, psychiatric nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Plaintiff's Counsel

*Paul D. Mark Lucas, Stuart, Fla.

*Thomas P. Frerichs, Waterloo, Iowa

*Maria Sperando, Stuart, Fla.