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$5 Million Settlement in Lawsuit Over Preventable Death of New Mexico Jail Prisoner
by Matt Clarke
In January 2018, Cibola County, New Mexico agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit over the death of a jail prisoner who was repeatedly denied medical treatment despite vomiting and defecating blood.
Douglas Edmisten, 50, was arrested on misdemeanor charges and booked into the Cibola ...
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Metropolitan Detention Center Guards Convicted in Sex Abuse Scandal, by Monte McCoin
- Tennessee Sheriff, Captain Arrested for Improper Use of Prisoner Labor, by Kevin Bliss
- Aging Prison Population Finds Parole Elusive, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Guard Who Scalded Florida Prisoner to Death Hired, Fired by Police Department, by David Reutter
- Illinois Ends Medical Co-Pays for Prisoners, But DOC Healthcare Criticized, by Derek Gilna
- Illinois Federal Jury Awards Prisoner $252,100 for Beating and Denial of Medical Care, by Edward Lyon
- Prisoners Face Retaliation for Raising Concerns About Criminal Justice System, by Edward Lyon
- $1 Million Award for Two Women Sexually Assaulted by Florida Jail Guard
- Florida Prisoner’s Suit Proceeds Against Guards for Use of Force, Retaliation, by Dale Chappell
- Vera Institute Announces Increase in Federal Funding to House Former Prisoners, by Derek Gilna
- Prisoner Loses Suit Against Jail Officials for Disclosure of His Medical Condition, by Edward Lyon
- New Mexico DOC Guards Receive $2.5 Million Settlement for Sexual Harassment, by Derek Gilna
- Maine Constitution Mandates “Prisoner Mailbox Rule”, by Mark Wilson
- DOJ Launches Investigation into Abuse at Florida Women’s Prison
- Washington State Prisoners Protest Poor Food, by Edward Lyon
- Class-Action Suit Against CoreCivic ICE Detention Center Allowed to Proceed, by Christopher Zoukis
- Audit Criticizes Milwaukee County Jail’s Contracted Medical Services, by Derek Gilna
- Colorado County Pays $800,000 for Latest Excessive Force Settlement, by Derek Gilna
- Harvard Student Group Advocates for Prison Education, Reform, by Monte McCoin
- Shareholder Resolutions Would Stop Private Prison Firms from Housing Separated Immigrant Families
- Trump Establishes Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry, by Monte McCoin
- $5 Million Settlement in Lawsuit Over Preventable Death of New Mexico Jail Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Seventh Circuit: Illinois Prisoner Entitled to Retrial After Appointment of Counsel Denied, by Derek Gilna
- Second Circuit: Prisoners Have the Right Not to Snitch, by Christopher Zoukis
- New York Prisoner Entitled to Vegetarian, Dairy Tolerant, Kosher Diet Under RLUIPA
- Book Seller Sued for Defrauding Federal Prisons
- Virginia DOC Called Out for Use of Solitary Confinement, by Kevin Bliss
- First Step Act Passes – Includes Federal Sentencing, Prison Reforms, by Steve Horn
- Guards Face Federal Charges for Smuggling Drugs, Cell Phones Into Idaho Prisons, by Dale Chappell
- Alabama Sheriff Pockets Excess Jail Food Funds, Buys Beach House, Loses Re-election Bid, by Kevin Bliss
- Report Highlights Shortcomings of New York’s Parole Board, by Christopher Zoukis
- $3.279 Million in Costs and Fees Awarded in Wrongful Death Suit Involving Epileptic Prisoner, by R. Bailey
- Settlement in HRDC Suit Against Solitary Confinement of Juveniles at Florida Jail
- Thurgood Marshall, Jr.’s Controversial Position on Board of Private Prison Firm, by Steve Horn
- Ohio County Jail Faces Increased Liability Due to Numerous Lawsuits, by Edward Lyon
- Seventh Circuit Remands Lawsuit Over Book Confiscation at Cook County Jail, by Derek Gilna
- Alaskan Native American Company Profits from Immigrant Detention, by Christopher Zoukis
- Connecticut Passes Law to Protect Women, Transgender Prisoners, by Dale Chappell
- $550,000 Settlement for Detainee Rendered Quadriplegic by Guard’s Excessive Force
- Lawsuits Filed Over South Dakota Replacing Prison Law Libraries with Tablets, by Derek Gilna
- Prisoners File Environmental Lawsuit Against Proposed Federal Prison in Kentucky, by Panagioti Tsolkas
- Alabama DOC Ordered to Remedy Overcrowded, Understaffed Prisons in Mental Health Suit, by Kevin W. Bliss
- $32,000 Settlement in Excessive Force Case Involving Mentally Ill Alabama Prisoner
- A Jailbreak of the Imagination: Seeing Prisons for What They Are and Demanding Transformation, by Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba
- $750,000 Settlement for Family of Man Who Died in Illinois Jail, by David M. Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Seventh Circuit Vacates ADA Summary Judgment Against Cook County Sheriff, by Derek Gilna
- Sex Crimes and Criminal Justice: Formerly Incarcerated Sex Offenders Say Civil Commitment Programs Deny Proper Rehabilitation, by Barbara Koeppel
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Texas Social Workers Challenge Blanket Denial of State Occupational License Based on Youthful Assault Convictions, Aug. 1, 2025
- After Judge’s Letter, at Least 22 Former FCI Dublin Prisoners Granted Compassionate Release, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Award of Time Served Credit for Non-Citizen Awaiting Extradition, Aug. 1, 2025
- Former Oregon Prison Guard Sergeant Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Imprisoned Women, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Procedure for Crediting Jail Time to Multiple Contemporaneously-Imposed Sentences, Aug. 1, 2025
- Over One-Third of Older Texas Prisoners Suffering Cognitive Impairment, July 15, 2025
- Kansas Supreme Court Revives Prisoner’s Challenge to Loss of Parental Rights, June 1, 2025
- Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim, June 1, 2025
- $5.6 Million Settlement for California Prisoner’s Wife Strip-searched During Visit, June 1, 2025
- Academic Study of Prison Guards’ Use of Excessive Force Details Sad State of Civil Rights for Abused Prisoners, June 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- PLN Publisher Wins Settlement Records from Centurion in Florida Prisoner’s Wrongful Death, Aug. 1, 2025. Centurion, Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Records, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Public Records Act, HRDC Litigation.
- 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.
- $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.
- Class-Action Suit at BOP “Rape Club” in California Settled for Record $116 Million, July 15, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, DOC/BOP misconduct, Settlements, Injunctions, Class Actions.
- Lawsuits Filed After Fatal Assault on Elderly Prisoner at Kentucky Jail, July 15, 2025. Classification, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- $340,000 for Former Massachusetts Prisoner Whose Baby Was Stillborn, July 15, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Children of Prisoners, Parent/Child Privilege.
- Oregon Prisoners Can Now Seek Economic Damages for Future Lost Income More Easily, July 15, 2025. Retaliation, Settlements, Defamation, Employment Deprivation.
- Tenth Circuit Upholds Nearly $8.8 Million Judgment for Utah Jail Death, June 1, 2025. Injury -- Misc., Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- New Mexico Watchdog Group Sues for Video Allegedly Showing Jailers Killing Detainee, June 1, 2025. Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Public Records Act.
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Kills One Jail Death Suit, Threatening Settlement of Another, June 1, 2025. Systemic Medical Neglect, Private Contractors, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.