View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2014/11/12/346790.htm
A California jury has determined that San Diego County will have to pay $3 million to the parents of a heroin-addicted man who died of an asthma attack while detoxing in jail.
The parents of Daniel Sisson sued the Sheriff’s Department and the county in federal court on various claims, including wrongful death and cruel and unusual punishment.
A forensic pathology expert testified in trial that the 21-year-old died from an asthma attack caused by the symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
On Monday a U.S. District Court jury found that the county and two nurses violated Sisson’s civil rights.
U-T San Diego reported that the panel specifically found fault with the county’s method of checking jail cells and its method for training staff to deal with inmates who are detoxing from drug addiction.