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Texas Suicide Suit Alleging Medical Malpractice Settles For $288,130
On June 23, 1993, a lawsuit arising from the suicide death of a prisoner in
the Jefferson County (Texas) Detention Center settled for $288,130. The
suit had alleged that STAT Care, the jail's contract medical provider,
failed to properly screen or provide mental health care to the decedent.
The decedent, a 31 year old father of 2 children, was arrested on June 16,
1990, for trespassing at a local convenience store. On June 17, 1990, he
was transferred to the detention center in Beaumont and placed in the
general population. Approximately two days later the decedent was taken to
the infirmary to be "screened in." Nurses conducting the screening reported
no suicidal ideations or other mental health problems. Within 45 minutes,
however, other nurses began reporting that the decedent was highly agitated
and that he claimed the nurses were trying to poison him.
According to the evidence, the decedent also became involved in a physical
altercation with guards in the infirmary. Both the guards and nurses
reported the decedent's erratic behavior to STAT Care supervisors. Even so,
the decedent was not placed in a suicide resistant cell in the infirmary.
Instead, he was housed in a non suicide proof lock down cell on the jail's
third floor where he fashioned a noose out of his bed sheets and hung
himself from an industrial clothes hook on the wall.
The decedent's estate sued claiming that STAT Care's medical personnel
negligently failed to provide the necessary health screening or mental
health care, thus allowing the suicide to occur. STAT Care additionally
failed to warn jail staff concerning the decedent's condition.
STAT Care settled the case for $288,130.70. Morton Meltzer, former health
care director for the North Carolina Department of Corrections (currently
located in Cameron, North Carolina), served as the plaintiff's health care
expert. Plaintiff's counsel was not identified. See: Oville v. STAT Care,
Jefferson County (court unknown), Case No. E-139-188.
Source: Medical Litigation. Alert
the Jefferson County (Texas) Detention Center settled for $288,130. The
suit had alleged that STAT Care, the jail's contract medical provider,
failed to properly screen or provide mental health care to the decedent.
The decedent, a 31 year old father of 2 children, was arrested on June 16,
1990, for trespassing at a local convenience store. On June 17, 1990, he
was transferred to the detention center in Beaumont and placed in the
general population. Approximately two days later the decedent was taken to
the infirmary to be "screened in." Nurses conducting the screening reported
no suicidal ideations or other mental health problems. Within 45 minutes,
however, other nurses began reporting that the decedent was highly agitated
and that he claimed the nurses were trying to poison him.
According to the evidence, the decedent also became involved in a physical
altercation with guards in the infirmary. Both the guards and nurses
reported the decedent's erratic behavior to STAT Care supervisors. Even so,
the decedent was not placed in a suicide resistant cell in the infirmary.
Instead, he was housed in a non suicide proof lock down cell on the jail's
third floor where he fashioned a noose out of his bed sheets and hung
himself from an industrial clothes hook on the wall.
The decedent's estate sued claiming that STAT Care's medical personnel
negligently failed to provide the necessary health screening or mental
health care, thus allowing the suicide to occur. STAT Care additionally
failed to warn jail staff concerning the decedent's condition.
STAT Care settled the case for $288,130.70. Morton Meltzer, former health
care director for the North Carolina Department of Corrections (currently
located in Cameron, North Carolina), served as the plaintiff's health care
expert. Plaintiff's counsel was not identified. See: Oville v. STAT Care,
Jefferson County (court unknown), Case No. E-139-188.
Source: Medical Litigation. Alert
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Related legal case
Oville v. STAT Care, Jefferson County
| Year | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Cite | (court unknown), Case No. E-139-188 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 288131 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |