Largest Known Jail Death Settlement In Texas Awarded After Woman Died In 'Constant Pain'
The family of 47-year-old Holly Barlow-Austin, who died after being denied medical care in a for-profit Texas jail, received $7 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit.
It is the largest known jail death settlement in Texas history and among the largest nationwide, Erik Heipt, the lead attorney who represented Barlow-Austin’s family, said on Thursday in a statement announcing the settlement.
“We hope that this result sends a powerful message to every single jail and prison in America that this type of blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated,” Heipt wrote. “In particular, this outcome should serve as a wake-up call to all private jail and prison operators—not just in Texas, but everywhere: If you’re going to cut corners and put profits over people’s lives, there will be a steep price to pay.”
Barlow-Austin died in June 2019 after being held at the Bi-State Justice Center, a jail on the Texas-Arkansas border run by LaSalle Corrections. The following year, her family sued jail staffers, Bowie County and LaSalle — a company that has been “neglecting and abusing inmates, disregarding their fundamental constitutional rights, and engaging in other cruel and inhumane acts and practices,” according to the lawsuit.
The settlement came after two and a half years of litigation. Although the $7 million payment is public, the specific amount paid by each defendant remains confidential. LaSalle did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it was not clear if it had admitted fault as part of the settlement.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/holly-barlow-austin-family-record-settlement_n_644981d1e4b011a819c5515d
Abolish private prisons NOW! Were these Reagan creations?
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