deliberate indifference
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10th Circuit gives Eagle County sheriff’s officials immunity for jail suicide
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The federal appeals court based in Denver decided on Monday that five Eagle County sheriff’s officials cannot be held liable for the death of a jail detainee who allegedly was a known suicide risk prior to his arrest. The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit marked the second time in…
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Larimer County deputy not liable for jail assault, federal judge rules
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A former Larimer County sheriff’s deputy is not liable for a man’s assault at the hands of another jail detainee, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. Dustin Napier suffered a broken jaw and other wounds after his cellmate attacked him in the county jail. On two prior occasions, Napier had asked Deputy Luke Albrook to…
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Federal judge allows retaliation lawsuit to proceed against prison dentist
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A federal judge has declined to dismiss an incarcerated man’s claim that a prison dentist retaliated against him for filing a complaint about his allegedly substandard dental care – to the point of making threats and acting aggressively toward him during an appointment. LaRon Antonio Donald, who resides at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, sued multiple…
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Rio Blanco County sheriff’s officials can be held liable for jail suicide, appeals court rules
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The immunity that Colorado law broadly affords to government entities does not shield employees of the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office from being sued for the death of a jail detainee, Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday. On her third day in the county jail, Catherine Rowell died by suicide. Sheriff’s personnel allegedly failed to…
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Federal judge green-lights jail suicide lawsuit against Saguache County for trial
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A jury will decide whether Saguache County Sheriff Dan Warwick, one of his deputies and the board of county commissioners are liable for the 2019 suicide death of Jackson Maes in the jurisdiction’s jail. In a Feb. 3 order, U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang dismissed a number of constitutional rights claims against the…
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Judge refuses to dismiss inmate’s lawsuit against prison officials who allegedly denied care
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An inmate who allegedly vomited “thick black blood” and had to be hospitalized may sue prison officials for failing to address his severe medical needs, a federal judge ruled earlier this month. John Hibbs, who is incarcerated in Fremont Correctional Facility, reportedly collapsed in February 2019. He was then transported to the hospital for internal bleeding.…
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Appeals court sides with sheriffs, counties in tossing detainee death lawsuit
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The state’s Court of Appeals has sided with Colorado’s counties and multiple sheriffs in finding Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader cannot be sued for the suicide death of a jail detainee. Unlike other wrongful death lawsuits and claims against government officials, which have a two-year filing window, state law carves out an exception for sheriffs.…
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Judge dismisses lawsuit of toothless detainee allegedly unable to eat in Jeffco jail
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A federal judge last month dismissed the claims of a toothless detainee in the Jefferson County jail who sued the sheriff and the jail’s medical and food contractors over an inability to eat the meals they provided him without his mouth bleeding or hurting. Brian L. Brackett, who entered the Jeffco jail in August 2021,…
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10th Circuit tosses Adams County detainee’s lawsuit over lack of sleep apnea machine
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A man detained in the Adams County jail did not plausibly allege sheriff’s employees and medical contractors violated his constitutional rights when they failed to provide a machine to treat his sleep apnea, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Thursday. Alexander Noel Garcia sued the sheriff’s office and the jail’s medical contractor,…
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10th Circuit tosses lawsuit over inmate attack in Clear Creek jail
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The federal appeals court based in Denver agreed last month that a detainee who was attacked in the Clear Creek County jail failed to allege the sheriff and the county knew of a risk to his safety and disregarded it. Aaron Dugar claimed Sheriff Rick Albers and the board of county commissioners were liable for…
