Death Of Inmate Placed In ‘spit Hood’ To Cost Metro $150k
Recently, it was announced in the news that the Metro Council in Nashville was prepared to pay $150,000 for a negligence lawsuit by the family of a man named Michael David Jones. Mr. Jones died on Nov. 20, 2013, three hours after he was arrested and taken into custody by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for public intoxication near the Nashville Rescue Mission homeless shelter. According to the lawsuit filed by Jones’ sister, he was pepper sprayed, covered with a spit hood and then locked in seclusion, where he died. The suit claims Jones choked to death and suffocated because of the sheriff’s department’s negligence. Further, the suit claims Metro employees were negligent because they failed to monitor the condition of a man in their custody.
According to jail records, Jones was intoxicated and acting belligerent, which led to officers having to pepper spray him and put him into restraints. Jail officials claim that the next time deputies checked on Jones less than 10 minutes later, he wasn’t moving. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Metro Legal Department offered $150,000 to settle the lawsuit, although it is still unclear how Jones died in custody and whether the spit hood was the cause of that death. If the case had gone to trial, the court could have awarded Jones’ family members damages up to $300,000. No disciplinary action was taken against the sheriff’s office employees.
What is Wrongful Death?
It does not matter in what context wrongful death occurs, whether in the criminal system, or from a car accident. Wrongful death provides relatives of the decedent the ability to pursue monetary compensation for their losses. Medical expenses, funeral expenses, pain and suffering of victim, loss of companionship, and lost future wages are all calculable amounts that may entitle you to financial compensation for your losses.
In order to file a valid wrongful death lawsuit, you must meet the following requirements: a) you must be a family member of the deceased individual (legal spouses are considered family members); b) your loved one’s death must have occurred as a direct cause of the defendant’s negligence (all wrongful death cases are based on negligence); and c) your loved one’s death must have affected you and resulted in monetary damages.
Nashville Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawyers
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one because of the negligent act of another person, you may have a claim for wrongful death compensation. Contact the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC today for a free and confidential consultation of your claims. Wrongful death claims may allow you to collect compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, pain and suffering of the victim, loss of companionship, and lost future wages. We will work with you to investigate your claim, identify all responsible parties, and pursue the full compensation to which you are entitled.
