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Maricopa County Settles Prisoner Suicide Case for $575,000
On October 12, 2007, Maricopa County, Arizona settled for $575,000 a lawsuit brought by survivors of a prisoner who committed suicide at the Maricopa County Jail.
Stephan Cervantes was booked into the Maricopa County's Madison Street Jail on May 4, 2002. He expressed suicidal thoughts to the booking officer who wrote "Suicide Watch" on the booking sheet. Cervantes was placed on suicide watch at the jail. However, on May 13, 2002, he was transferred to an unsupervised cell on the 8th floor of the courthouse.
Courthouse workers heard Cervantes screaming for a doctor to help him, but ignored it. Later, he was found hanging in his cell and was pronounced dead.
Cervantes's mother, de facto wife, minor son and minor daughter hired Phoenix, Arizona attorney Joel B. Robbins and Scotsdale, Arizona attorney David J. Don to file a state tort and state law-based lawsuit against the state, the county and various sheriff's office personnel in state court. Maricopa County settled the suit for $575,000.
See: Cervantes v. State of Arizona, Ariz. Superior Ct., No. CV2003-009282.
Stephan Cervantes was booked into the Maricopa County's Madison Street Jail on May 4, 2002. He expressed suicidal thoughts to the booking officer who wrote "Suicide Watch" on the booking sheet. Cervantes was placed on suicide watch at the jail. However, on May 13, 2002, he was transferred to an unsupervised cell on the 8th floor of the courthouse.
Courthouse workers heard Cervantes screaming for a doctor to help him, but ignored it. Later, he was found hanging in his cell and was pronounced dead.
Cervantes's mother, de facto wife, minor son and minor daughter hired Phoenix, Arizona attorney Joel B. Robbins and Scotsdale, Arizona attorney David J. Don to file a state tort and state law-based lawsuit against the state, the county and various sheriff's office personnel in state court. Maricopa County settled the suit for $575,000.
See: Cervantes v. State of Arizona, Ariz. Superior Ct., No. CV2003-009282.
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Related legal case
Cervantes v. State of Arizona
| Year | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Ariz. Superior Ct., No. CV2003-009282 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 575,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |