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$11,500 Settlement in D.C. Prisoner’s Cancer Death Lawsuit
The District of Columbia (D.C.) paid $11,500 to settle the negligence lawsuit of Elizabeth Wall, sister of deceased D.C. Jail prisoner Frederick Thornton.
On December 10, 2003, Thornton was transferred from the D.C. Jail to Greater Southeast Community Hospital for lung cancer. On December 25, 2003 at 1:27 p.m. Thornton was pronounced dead. Various D.C. Jail officials were aware of Thornton’s death but failed to notify anyone in Thornton’s family. Thornton was cremated on April 2, 2004. On April 19, 2004 Thornton’s niece called probation to ask about her uncle and on April 20, 2004 learned that her Thornton was dead.
In Wall’s complaint, she alleged negligence of D.C. Jail officials due to the fact that as sister and next of kin she had the right of possession of her brother’s body for purposes of disposition and burial in a traditional manner.
Wall accepted settlement on October 30, 2006. She was represented by Washington D.C. attorney Geoffrey D. Allen. See: Wall v. District of Columbia, Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-6322.
On December 10, 2003, Thornton was transferred from the D.C. Jail to Greater Southeast Community Hospital for lung cancer. On December 25, 2003 at 1:27 p.m. Thornton was pronounced dead. Various D.C. Jail officials were aware of Thornton’s death but failed to notify anyone in Thornton’s family. Thornton was cremated on April 2, 2004. On April 19, 2004 Thornton’s niece called probation to ask about her uncle and on April 20, 2004 learned that her Thornton was dead.
In Wall’s complaint, she alleged negligence of D.C. Jail officials due to the fact that as sister and next of kin she had the right of possession of her brother’s body for purposes of disposition and burial in a traditional manner.
Wall accepted settlement on October 30, 2006. She was represented by Washington D.C. attorney Geoffrey D. Allen. See: Wall v. District of Columbia, Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-6322.
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Related legal case
Wall v. District of Columbia
| Year | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-6322 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 11,500.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |