When a person is taken into custody by law enforcement in Tennessee, the arresting agency has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of its inmates. Any failure to do so can result in officers and their employers being held liable in the matter.
The Nashville wrongful death attorneys at Ponce Law say this is what led a woman to file a lawsuit against the City of Kingsport and two officers who arrested her husband. Reports indicate the man died while in custody after being arrested following a car accident.
The Insurance Journal states the victim was arrested on Sept. 19 after showing signs of intoxication following a car accident. He was transported to the Kingsport City Jail, where he showed an inability to walk, talk, or stay awake. He was left unattended and was found unresponsive on Sept. 20. He was declared dead a short time later.
Almost a year after the victim’s passing, his wife filed a $1 million lawsuit against the jail and two officers, claiming they failed to provide her husband with adequate medical attention while he was in custody.
Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult events an individual can ever go through, especially if the death was the result of negligence. The Nashville personal injury lawyers at Ponce Law are hopeful a decision in this particular case can bring a sense of closure to the family of the man who died.