A man who was held in solitary confinement for two years and was forced to pull his own tooth because he was denied dental health, has been awarded $22 million for violation of his constitutional rights.
Stephen Slevin, 58, from New Mexico, was awarded the sum of money – one of the largest federal civil rights settlements in history involving an inmate – after accusing Dona Ana County jail of essentially forgetting about him while he was in custody, not giving him the healthcare he needed and treating him inhumanely…
The 58-year-old was arrested in August 2005 and charged with driving while intoxicated and receiving a stolen vehicle near Las Cruces. His lawyer said that, due to his history of mental illness, he was placed into solitary confinement. Civil rights attorney Matthew Coyte revealed it was here that his client started to deteriorate.
He said: ‘They threw him in solitary and then ignored him. He disappeared into delirium, and his mental illness was made worse by being isolated from human contact and a lack of medical care…’
While Slevin was in solitary confinement, his toenails grew so long they began to curl around his feet, he developed bedsores, fungus and dental problems and lost a lot of weight, according to the lawsuit…
Mr Slevin was eventually released after 22 months as a pre-trial detainee and the charges against him were dismissed…
The county had recently offered to settle the case for $2 million…despite previously denying there was a lack of medical care and that, as government employees, county officials deserved immunity from liability.
“…as government employees, county officials deserved immunity from liability” – who do they think they are? Congress?
“…as government employees, county officials deserved immunity from liability” – who do they think they are? Congress?
Evidently, yes…
Can’t wait to see how this is turned into a “he deserved it” scenario on the boards here.
It goes like this:
If he voted for Obama then yes, he deserves the neglect he received and more.
If he voted for McCain then he deserves an even bigger monetary compensation.
Maybe he should run for office. He seems to know how to make money. That’s someone we need in Government.
Seems like there may be some federal statues violated here.
Duh, no shit?
Did he have some statues in there with him? If so was that really solitary confinement?
22 Fricken Million? Brave soul not to settle at a 2 Million offer. I’ve always wondered how such decisions are made. Jury full of Ron Paul supporters?
What is two years of your life worth? His life?
Will 22 MM change the procedures at this jail?
“Someone” in management should be fired not for the inhumanity of it all but rather for the mismanagement–solitary confinement for two years. They obviously didn’t need the space.
Ha, ha.
No one punished except the tax payers. No one including the taxpayers learned a thing.
Same as it ever was.
I have to agree, this is just payoff money to make it go away. Lawyer will no doubt get more benefit then anyone and your right. I doubt anything will change.
I don’t think you’re using the standard mechanism of a payoff to make it go away. THAT was the 2 Million offer. THIS is a jury judgment. Nothing went away–it went to a trial, and evidently no appeal????? Supposed to have an appeal and a settlement of 12 Million “to make it go away.”
Semantics? Or are you trying to agree the payment of whatever amount won’t change a thing down at the jail? No liaison set up with County Mental Health Services==if such services are even available? No monitoring system set up by the Public Defenders Office to count heads/arraignments down at the jail?
I wonder how long/many people are kept in jail without charges before they litigate after being let go on the down low AND what systems other jails commonly use to avoid this issue? I have assumed it was simple jail crowding and sane people yelling about wanting their phone call that kept the system rolling?
Make you kinda hate insane people. Whats wrong with them? Give them a computer, and let them blog.
…and we have a winnah!
What kind of lawyer did he have to have this go on so long? Obviously his rights were totally ignored.
From the article I believe he didn’t get a lawyer until he was release after 2 years
So now he’s batshit crazy AND a millionaire. Like George Soros.
Apparently this man had no attorney and no way to contact one.
He looks much better now. And he’s RICH!!!! Hell I’d do 2 years for 22Mil and a haircut. The dental experience is just gravy.
Under-Reported News
Ask yourself why you have to read this stuff on a blog.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Why?
Answer:
If the guy was a hispanic, the story would be top of the fold on Page One every day for a month.
FTW
If the guy was Hispanic, he’d of been given two bucks and a bus ticket out of town………and we’d never hear of him===if the guy was lucky. Otherwise, it would have been the baton dance in the alley when they figured out he was taking up space and eating our food.
Majorities have their way.
If he was Hispanic, every news agency would have him up front and center for weeks. Plus, he would probably get a personal visit from leaders of both parties as they fight for the illegal vote.
$22 million
The bill was sent to taxpayers across the population of the county, say 22000 people. It can’t be very many people, it’s the freaking desert of NM.
The responsible government workers of this crime were, what, given two weeks paid admin leave at worst?
22 million divided by 22000 is a thousand of dollars bill sent to every citizen, same as being randomly accosted and fined by policemen.
If I were a citizen in this county I would make damn sure this money came out of the hides of those responsible.
Clearly justice was not done. A dui does not equate to what they did to him without due process.
I suspect somebody will be held liable by the voters.
Question – I thought The US just passed a law that American citizens who are suspicious can be held in jail indefinitely without bail and without a lawyer?
So.. what’s the big deal about this guy? It’s legal now, who cares?
The county forgot to call his actions “terrorism”. I have it on good authority they will not make that mistake twice.
Dad… is that you? We were worried when you didn’t come home from the bar years ago.
I’m rarely shocked by the incompetence of the justice system but, dayum. Habeus Corpus anyone?
Oh give me a break. The US penal system has just become another monstrous, out-sourced to the lowest bidder, cosy with the government business. You have the highest incarceration rates in the world so what do you expect?
If I were to describe Alphie, it would be the guy on the left but with an angry frown.
I have bad news for this dude.
The case is being appealed to a higher court.
Contrary to what most people believe, an appeals court has the power to set aside the decision of the jury and award significantly less money, or no money at all.
No checks will be issued until the appeals process is complete, and that could require several years of appeals to higher courts.
In other words, the dude is screwed until an actual check appears in his hand, which is not likely.
Follow this case until its final conclusion and see what actually happens.
I forgot to post a reference to the appeal:
Prisoner who faced ‘worst case of solitary confinement’ in the U.S. awarded $22M
Coyte sued the Dona Ana County Commission, the jail, jail director Chris Barela and the jail’s former medical director, Daniel Zemek, charging they had violated Slevin’s civil rights.
A jury trial began on January 17 before U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez.
On Tuesday, a jury returned a verdict calling for US$15.5-million in compensatory damages from all defendants, US$3.5-million in punitive damages from Zemek and US$3-million in punitive damages from Barela.
A county spokesman said the verdict would be appealed.
Anyone with a $22 million judgement against them is going to appeal. At that point, they have nothing more to lose.
Precisely.
That is why the dude’s attorneys should have advised him to settle out of court for the $2 million that was offered by the county.
I suspect the lawyers accepted the case on a contingency fee of 40% or more, so there is more incentive for the lawyers to press for a large jury verdict that might withstand the appeals process.
The plaintiff is suffering from lung cancer so it is likely he will be deceased if or when the jury verdict survives the appeals.
Consequently, the lawyers expect to pocket a handsome sum even though their client will probably be deceased.
It is a crap shoot.
That is how our wonderful legal system works.