Crime happens. Our criminal justice system exists as a means to punish people who are convicted of crimes in Tennessee. The meaning of justice should not be lost when the meaning of criminal justice is considered. Justice is meant to be fair and that fairness should include the treatment of people serving time for crimes for which they have been convicted. Failing to observe fairness in treatment may have led to a wrongful death suit.
An inmate serving time for being involved in an attempted murder reportedly got into an altercation with prison staff. Prison guards subdued him and got him face down on the ground. The inmate suffered head trauma, injuries to his face and a broken nose following the struggle. He was then transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. He died as a result of his injuries.
His daughter has a brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the Lincoln County Jail. An autopsy showed that her father had died as a result of traumatic asphyxiation. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also investigating the case at the request of the district attorney.
Having a loved one behind bars can be a difficult and stressful experience. Having that person die while behind bars compounds the stress for the family and loved ones of the deceased. A human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of one’s circumstances. If a person is concerned for another’s well-being while detained in the criminal justice system, one might wish to seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney. No one can undo what occurred, but a civil claim for wrongful death in Tennessee may provide compensation for medical costs, final costs and other verifiable losses.