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$630,000 Plus Paid in Ulcer Related Death
$630,000 plus paid in ulcer related death
On May 16, 1994, Gertrude Barrow, 41, died at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) of a perforated chronic peptic ulcer and acute peritonitis. She was just three months short of her release date.
At the time of her incarceration in 1993, Ms. Barrow had a diagnosed ulcer condition and sought medical attention for it throughout the duration of her confinement. Despite her best efforts, WCCW medical staff continually ignored her repeated requests for treatment, and in fact prescribed medication that exacerbated her ulcer. The last weeks of Ms. Barrows life were spent in excruciating agony, and her complaints and medical condition were ignored until it was too late to ease her pain and save her life.
Following her death, Ms. Barrow's estate sued the DOC. The case was settled prior to trial for a principal sum of $630,000. Ms. Barrow's children will also receive structured monthly payments over the course of the next 15 years that total nearly an additional $600,000. Ms. Barrow's estate was represented by Katrin Frank of MacDonald, Hoague, & Bayless, a Seattle law firm. See: Spearman v. State of Washington, No. 95-2-12840-3 (Pierce County Superior Court, Jan. 17, 1996).
On May 16, 1994, Gertrude Barrow, 41, died at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) of a perforated chronic peptic ulcer and acute peritonitis. She was just three months short of her release date.
At the time of her incarceration in 1993, Ms. Barrow had a diagnosed ulcer condition and sought medical attention for it throughout the duration of her confinement. Despite her best efforts, WCCW medical staff continually ignored her repeated requests for treatment, and in fact prescribed medication that exacerbated her ulcer. The last weeks of Ms. Barrows life were spent in excruciating agony, and her complaints and medical condition were ignored until it was too late to ease her pain and save her life.
Following her death, Ms. Barrow's estate sued the DOC. The case was settled prior to trial for a principal sum of $630,000. Ms. Barrow's children will also receive structured monthly payments over the course of the next 15 years that total nearly an additional $600,000. Ms. Barrow's estate was represented by Katrin Frank of MacDonald, Hoague, & Bayless, a Seattle law firm. See: Spearman v. State of Washington, No. 95-2-12840-3 (Pierce County Superior Court, Jan. 17, 1996).
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Related legal case
Spearman v. State of Washington
| Year | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Pierce Co. Sup. Ct. No. 95-2-12840-3 (1996) |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 1230000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |