$300,000 Settlement in Iowa Jail Detainee's Suicide
On March 21, 2003, the estate of David Price settled a lawsuit against the Black Hawk County jail in Iowa for $300,000. On December 17, 1997, Price hanged himself in his jail cell with a bed sheet.
Price had been diagnosed as a manic depressive schizophrenic with suicidal tendencies yet he received no type of mental health care or treatment while he was in the jail. The estate sued the sheriff and the county alleging deliberate indifference to Price's serious medical needs. The jail claimed that Price lied to jail employees about his medical history and never indicated he needed mental health care. The jail settled the lawsuit by paying the estate $300,000.
The plaintiffs were represented by Paul Lucas and Maria Sperando with the Stuart, Florida law firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson and Sperando and Thomas Frerichs of Waterloo, Iowa. See: Estate of Price v. Black Hawk County, US DC, ND IA, Case No. 00-CV-2008.
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Related legal case
Estate of Price v. Black Hawk County
| Year | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC ND IA, Case No. 00-CV-2008 |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 300000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |