The case of Juan Martin Nunez gained public attention after the Board of Supervisors ramped up scrutiny of Sheriff Laurie Smith’s jail management last fall.
The Nuñez settlement, which became public record Tuesday, is the second high-figure jail-neglect settlement by the county in recent memory. In March 2020, the countyand his family to settle a lawsuit after the mentally ill man became severely disabled when he repeatedly injured himself while riding unrestrained in a jail transport van in August 2018.
Though Nuñez — who also suffers from mental illness — screamed for deputies’ help and said he feared he might be paralyzed, his lawyers say several deputies lifted him onto his bed without stabilizing his spine. Jail staff then waited more than 24 hours before calling paramedics, who also failed to properly stabilize Nuñez, according to the lawsuit.
His attorneys further contended that jail staff “knew or should have known” that “Nuñez’s demonstrated history of self-harm, his placement in involuntary psychiatric custody, and his prescription of a powerful anti-depressant were all strong indicia of mental instability,” and that they “should have placed Mr. Nuñez’ under increased supervision in order to prevent further self-injury.”
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