Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matthew R. Arnold of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”
The death of a 16-year-old at the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice wasn’t a first for persons in the custody of the Palmetto State this year. Let’s hope it’s the last.
The young man—Alan C. Cottrell—was found in his room hanging from a bed sheet, according to Richland Coroner Gary Watts. Cottrell, who was alone in his room when the hanging occurred, was discovered by staff at around 11:30 p.m. He was taken to Lexington Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of asphyxiation by hanging at 12:22 a.m.
The death is under investigation by the coroner and the State Law Enforcement Division. Watts said he did not know how long it had been since department staff had checked on Cottrell before the hanging. Three employees have been placed on suspension, according to Loretta S. Neal, the Director of Public Affairs for the Department. Through Neal, the Department extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to Cottrell’s family.
Earlier this year, in a May 20 incident, 44-year-old Randy William Stevens hanged himself in the Lancaster County jail. An investigation into Stevens’ death revealed that an officer on duty slept for two hours with headphones on her ears. Per jail policy, Stevens was supposed to be checked every 15 minutes. The officer falsified records showing she had performed the checks. Both she and her supervisor were fired, and three other officers were suspended for three days without pay.
In March, a 30-year-old Columbia man serving time for a 2001 murder and armed robbery was stabbed to death at Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, S.C. Dorchester County Coroner Christopher Nisbet said Christopher Dewayne Gale died of multiple stab wounds. Gale and other inmates who were members of the Nation of Islam had sued the Department of Corrections in federal court in 2013, arguing that they were denied the opportunity to worship separately from other Muslims in the prison. The lawsuit was not resolved at the time of Gale’s death.
In April, the widow of a 37-year-old man who died four years ago in the Chester County Detention Center added Dr. Richard Hughes to her lawsuit against the Chester County Sheriff’s office. The widow—Angela Newland—alleged that both the sheriff’s office and the doctor failed to take steps to save Richard Pettit’s life. Pettit had been complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath before dying of a heart attack at the jail, Newland alleged.
University of South Carolina Law Professor F. Patrick Hubbard told The State that claimants could recover as much as $300,000 in damages if wrongful death allegations were proven.
If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of someone’s negligent or intentional conduct, please do not hesitate to contact me to set up an appointment today. If you or someone you know has any questions regarding potential personal injury claims, feel free to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina for a free consultation. Call toll free at (955) 370-2828 or click here for additional resources.
About the Author
Matthew Arnold is a Managing Member of Arnold & Smith, PLLC, where he focuses on the areas of family law, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and equitable distribution.
Mr. Arnold was raised in Charlotte, where he graduated from Providence Senior High School. He attended Belmont Abbey College, where he graduated cum laude, before attending law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full academic scholarship.
In his free time, Mr. Arnold enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife and three children.
Sources:
http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/07/07/6118625/investigators-sc-jailer-asleep.html
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140318/PC16/140319335
http://www.thestate.com/2014/04/13/3385281/lawsuit-filed-in-chester-co-inmates.html
Image Credit:
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
See Our Related Blog Posts:
US Supreme Court Limits Inmates Ability to Sue for Personal Injuries
Former NFL Player’s Estate Files Wrongful Death Suit Against North Carolina Fiancée