Prisoner’s Suicide Costs Los Angeles County $450,000
The County of Los Angeles paid $350,000 to settle a federal civil rights action alleging the indifference of jail staff to the serious medical needs of prisoner Steven Cardenas resulted in his death by suicide.
Cardenas was sentenced in May 2007 to 21 years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. He was convicted of carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon on August 7, 2010.
Three days before his scheduled sentencing, Cardenas was found hanging in his cell at the Men’s Central Jail. Following his death on October 5, 2010, his estate sued. In addition to the $350,000 settlement, the county also incurred $80,164 in attorney fees and $10,020 in costs. The settlement was finalized and the case closed in early 2015; the estate was represented by the Kaye, McLane & Bednarski law firm. See: Campos v. County of Los Angeles, USDC, D. California, Case No. 11-09613.
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Related legal case
Campos v. County of Los Angeles
| Year | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC, D. California, Case No. 11-09613 |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 450,000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |