A medical care provider in Pennsylvania was ordered to pay more than $11 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit arising from the suicide of an inmate at a county jail. The federal jury ruled in favor of the inmate’s surviving spouse and his estate, finding that the medical provider and its medical staff were negligent when they failed to recognize and attend to the inmate’s need for routine doses of his anti-depressant medicines.
Wrongful Death Due to Lack of Medication
The case stemmed from the detention of a man who was arrested in 2009. The inmate already informed a county jail nurse that he was taking antidepressant medication for his psychological problems. Records confirmed this information but the decedent was not placed on the mental health line nor was he provided regular doses of his antidepressant medicine during his detention.
The inmate took his own life just a few days from his arrest, prompting his wife and estate to file a claim for wrongful death against the company that was providing medical services to inmates at the county jail.
Multimillion Wrongful Death Award
The federal jury deliberated on the lawsuit for a few days and eventually announced its verdict finding the medical care company and its personnel liable for their failure to address the deceased inmate’s need for regular medication which led to his suicide. The jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $11.9 million in damages, including punitive damages.
Wrongful Death in California
The loss of a loved one is a devastating experience for immediate family members who depended on the decedent for support and companionship. If the negligence of another person or party contributed to the death of a loved one, an experienced Encino wrongful death attorney can help you recover by determining whether you are entitled to wrongful death compensation.
At Binder & Associates, our Encino based personal injury lawyers have over 4 decades of wrongful death experience and know how to investigate an accident and to determine the approximate values of your losses. When another party is responsible for the wrongful death of another, the surviving heirs of the decedent is entitled to compensation which will cover funeral costs, the decedent’s lost earning capacity, as well as damages for your emotional suffering and loss of companionship.
Encino-based law firm of Binder & Associates is prepared to act immediately on your case from the moment you call for a consultation. We invite you to contact us online or call us today at (818) 659-8588 to schedule your free initial consultation.
