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Missouri Town Pays $1.2 Million to Settle Lawsuit over Jail Suicide
by Lonnie Burton
On March 13, 2017, the city of Pagedale, Missouri agreed to pay $1.2 million to the family of a woman who hung herself at the city jail two-and-a-half years earlier. The resolution of the case meant that a jury trial scheduled for August 2017 was called off. …
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More from this issue:
- California Prisons Struggle with Environmental Threats from Sewage Spills, Contaminated Water, Airborne Disease, by Rick Anderson
- News in Brief
- Volunteers, Mayor Take Action to Clothe Freezing Prisoners in New York City, by Christopher Zoukis
- $10.25 Million Jury Award in Suit over Oklahoma Jail Prisoner’s Death, by Matthew Clarke
- Study Tracks Decline in Use of Solitary Confinement as Reform Bill Stalls in U.S. Senate, by Lonnie Burton
- New Study Indicates Annual Cost of Incarceration Exceeds $1 Trillion, by Audry Spade
- Prison Tattoos Tell a Story, by David Reutter
- Federal Judge Orders Cook County to Correct Courthouse ADA Violations, by Derek Gilna
- Most Black “Neighborhoods” in Wisconsin are Actually Jails, Prisons, by Christopher Zoukis
- Second Circuit Upholds $36 Million Jury Award, $5 Million in Fees in Wrongful Conviction Case, by Matthew Clarke
- Pressure from Advocacy Group Leads University of California to Partially Divest from Wells Fargo, by Christopher Zoukis
- Missouri DOC Director Replaced after String of Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuits
- Tenth Circuit Reinstates Suit over Failure to Provide Medical Treatment to Oklahoma Arrestee/Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Prisoners’ Suit over Repeated Overnight Deprivation of Clothing
- Louisiana Death Sentence Reversed, Charges Dismissed, Lawsuit Filed, by David Reutter
- Tennessee: High Cost of Drugs Cited as Reason to Deny Prisoners Hep C Treatment, by David Reutter
- Innocence Project Emerging in Israel, by Christopher Zoukis
- State Sanctioned Murder: By the Numbers, by Christopher Zoukis
- Private Prison Company’s Announcement to Reduce Recidivism Criticized as PR Ploy
- Montana County Settles Suit over Prisoner’s Rape for $125,000
- Missouri Town Pays $1.2 Million to Settle Lawsuit over Jail Suicide, by Lonnie Burton
- Prisoners and Disabilities: The Legal Landscape, by Christopher Zoukis
- Prisoner’s Escape from Understaffed Private Prison Results in Staff Discipline, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study: Prison Spending Grew at Three Times the Rate of Education Spending over Last Three Decades, by Lonnie Burton
- Visitors to USP Leavenworth Turned Away Due to Disabilities
- Seventh Circuit: District Court Erred in Dismissing Prisoner’s § 1983 Suit for Failure to Exhaust, by Lonnie Burton
- $1.275 Million Settlement for Los Angeles County Jail Whistleblower, by Lonnie Burton
- New York Jail Agrees to End Solitary Confinement of Juveniles, by Matthew Clarke, Derek Gilna
- Vermont Supreme Court Upholds Rights of Jailhouse Lawyers, by Christopher Zoukis
- D.C. Man Subjected to 77 Days Overdetention; Marshals Service Denies Responsibility, by Monte McCoin
- Chicago Man Exonerated of Murder Awarded $13 Million after 22 Years in Prison, by Lonnie Burton
- Third Circuit: No Death Row Confinement after Death Sentences Vacated, by Christopher Zoukis
- Hawaii: OCCC Mental Health Care Fails, Prison Staff Fired, by Monte McCoin
- State Governors Grant Over 500 Pardons, Commutations, by Christopher Zoukis
- Pennsylvania: Philly D.A. Sentenced to Five Years for Corruption, Disbarred, by Monte McCoin
- Massachusetts: Reform Legislation Introduced after Study on Solitary Confinement Published, by Lonnie Burton
- Tennessee Judge Denies Summary Judgment Motion in Jail Suicide Suit; Case Settles, by Derek Gilna
- New Zealand Court Decision: Voting Ban Violates Human Rights of Prisoners, by Monte McCoin
- Seventh Circuit: Corizon May be Liable for Failure to Coordinate Medical Care, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Denies Immunity to Police Officers, Jailers for Prisoner’s Death, by Matthew Clarke
- HRDC Sues Kitsap County, Washington over Debit Release Cards, by Derek Gilna
- Prisoners in Solitary Confinement Benefit from Nature Videos, Study Shows, by Monte McCoin
- Judge Orders Florida DOC to Immediately Start Treating Prisoners with HCV, by Derek Gilna
- First Circuit Reverses Convictions of Massachusetts Probation Officials, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study Indicates Racial Bias Skews Criminality Risk Assessment Tool
- Arizona: Mixed Rulings in Challenges to State’s Lethal Injection Protocol, by Lonnie Burton
- Georgia Prison Doctor Rewarded for Cutting Costs as Prisoners Died Under His Care, by David Reutter
- USP Atlanta Escapes Result in Convictions, by Monte McCoin
- In Midst of Opioid Crisis, an Addiction Medication Program for Federal Prisons Fizzles, by Mike Ludwig
- Federal Judge Expresses Frustration in New Orleans Jail Reform Litigation
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
More from Lonnie Burton:
- Ninth Circuit: Washington Civil Rights Suit Not Tolled by State Presentment Statute, Jan. 31, 2018
- California Agency Addresses In-person Visits at Jails after Governor Vetoes Bill, Jan. 8, 2018
- New York Times Reveals Racial Bias Rampant in Upstate New York Prisons, Jan. 8, 2018
- Report Slams Takeover of Washington DOC Food Services by Correctional Industries, Jan. 8, 2018
- Solitary to the Streets: Studies Find Such Releases Result in Higher Recidivism Rates, Violent Behavior, Jan. 8, 2018
- $4,000 for Injuries After Prison Staff Ignore Bottom Bunk Directive, Jan. 3, 2018
- $5,000 to Transgender Prisoner in Maryland Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Jan. 3, 2018
- $4,000 Awarded to Subject of Esquire Article, Jan. 3, 2018
- $5.75 Million Payout in Death of Rikers' Prisoner Denied Medical, Jan. 3, 2018
- South Carolina S.C. Refuses to Order Defendant Maimed from Jail to Psych Hospital, Jan. 3, 2018
More from these topics:
- America’s Deadliest Jails: Tarrant County Edition, Nov. 1, 2025. Wrongful Death, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- HRDC Wins $480,000 in Legal Fees from Centurion for Denied New Mexico Records, Aug. 1, 2025. Centurion, Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Records, Misdiagnosis, Failure to Treat, Malpractice, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Public Records Act, HRDC Publications, HRDC Litigation.
- Suit Filed Over Fatal Beating of New York Prisoner That Sparked Massive Guard Strike, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- $2.6 Million Paid for Detoxing Washington Jail Detainee Allowed to Leap to His Death, Additional NaphCare Payout Undisclosed, Aug. 1, 2025. Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death).
- CDCR Held in Contempt, Fined $112 Million in Longstanding Litigation Over Mental Health Care, Aug. 1, 2025. Staffing, Mental Health, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- Watchdog Calls Out D.C. for Dragging Feet on Construction of New Jail, Aug. 1, 2025. Totality of Conditions, Overcrowding, Ventilation, Exercise, Exposure to Cold, Jail Specific, Lighting, Noise, Vermin, Exposure to Heat, Security Systems.
- $15 Million Settlement Reached in San Diego Jail Detainee’s Untreated Withdrawal Death, Aug. 1, 2025. Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Failure to Treat, Arrest and Booking.
- $325,000 Paid to Former Wisconsin Prisoner Whose Cancer Biopsy Was Delayed by Previously Disciplined Doctor, Aug. 1, 2025. Cancer, Failure to Treat, Malpractice.
- $1.875 Million Partial Settlement for Colorado Detainee’s Death from Untreated Alcohol Withdrawal; Claims Against Wellpath Pending Bankruptcy, Aug. 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Failure to Treat, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Qualified Immunity Denied for Iowa Prison Doctor’s MRI Delay for Non-Medical Reasons, Aug. 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Failure to Treat, Qualified Immunity.

