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Prisoner Crippled In Texas Jail Settles For $2.25 Million
On May 12, 2000, the City of Harlingen, Texas, paid $2,250,000 to settle a
federal civil rights lawsuit brought by a man who was rendered quadriplegic
following an assault in the city jail.
In his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the
Western District of Texas, Aquilino Perez contended he was assaulted at the
jail after being arrested for public intoxication. Perez had claimed
$50,000 for past wages, $200,000 for future wages, $250,000 for past
medical bills, and future medical bills in excess of $1,000,000. The City's
insurance policy was limited to $5 million.
Perez was represented by Roy S. Dale, William D. Mount, Jr., and Katie
Klein of the McAllen, Texas, law firm Dale & Klein. His experts included
McAllen neurosurgeon Gustavo Ramos, M.D.; Harlingen neurosurgeon
F.M. Fennegan, M.D.; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, jail expert Thomas
Rosazza. Judge Hilda Tagle presided. See: Perez v. City of Harlingen, USDC
WD TX, Case No. B-96-75.
Source: Texas Reporter-Soele's Trial Report
federal civil rights lawsuit brought by a man who was rendered quadriplegic
following an assault in the city jail.
In his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the
Western District of Texas, Aquilino Perez contended he was assaulted at the
jail after being arrested for public intoxication. Perez had claimed
$50,000 for past wages, $200,000 for future wages, $250,000 for past
medical bills, and future medical bills in excess of $1,000,000. The City's
insurance policy was limited to $5 million.
Perez was represented by Roy S. Dale, William D. Mount, Jr., and Katie
Klein of the McAllen, Texas, law firm Dale & Klein. His experts included
McAllen neurosurgeon Gustavo Ramos, M.D.; Harlingen neurosurgeon
F.M. Fennegan, M.D.; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, jail expert Thomas
Rosazza. Judge Hilda Tagle presided. See: Perez v. City of Harlingen, USDC
WD TX, Case No. B-96-75.
Source: Texas Reporter-Soele's Trial Report
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Related legal case
Perez v. City of Harlingen
| Year | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC WD TX, Case No. B-96-75 |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 2,250,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |