Stewart ex rel. Estate of Stewart v. Waldo County.U.S. District Court SUICIDE Stewart ex rel ex rel. conj. abbreviation for Latin ex relatione, meaning "upon being related" or "upon information," used in the title of a legal proceeding filed by a state attorney general (or the federal Department of Justice) on behalf of the government, on the instigation of . Estate of Stewart v. Waldo County, 350 F.Supp.2d 215 (D.Me. 2004). The estate of a deceased inmate filed a [section] 1983 action alleging that a county violated the inmate's constitutional right to medical care and supervision, and asserting a wrongful death claim Wrongful death is a claim in common law jurisdictions against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as enumerated by statute. . The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants. The court held that the officials' knowledge that the inmate was intoxicated in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. did not demonstrate deliberate indifference to suicide risk. State and county policies and procedures Policies and Procedures are a set of documents that describe an organization's policies for operation and the procedures necessary to fulfill the policies. They are often initiated because of some external requirement, such as environmental compliance or other governmental required constant monitoring of intoxicated individuals, but the court found that the officials had no subjective knowledge that the inmate was suicidal or at risk for any reason. The court noted "despite the inmate's high blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content (BAC) or blood alcohol concentration is the concentration of alcohol in blood. It is usually measured as mass per volume. For example, a BAC of 0.02% means 0.02 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of individual's blood, or 0. , he was functioning and coherent enough to understand directions and walk unassisted." The inmate hanged himself shortly after admission to the jail. Jail staff checked on the inmate at least every fifteen minutes before his death. (Waldo County Jail, Maine) |
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