Filed Date: June 3, 1986
Clearinghouse coding complete
The wife and children of David Lewis, an incarcerated individual who committed suicide while in solitary confinement at the Terrebonne Parish Jail, filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the parish in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The plaintiffs allege that Lewis's constitutional rights were violated by the jail's deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs.
Following a jury trial, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Judge Peter Beer) entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, but awarded only punitive damages of $6,279 (funeral costs). Both parties appealed this decision.
On February 12, 1990, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Judge F.A. Little) held that the jury verdict was unsupported by the evidence and remanded the case to the district court for determination as to damages suffered by the inmate immediately prior to death. Lewis v. Parish of Terrebonne, 894 F.2d 142 (5th Cir. 1990). We have no further information on the proceedings of this case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (3/14/2006)
Little, F. A. Jr. (Louisiana)
Ethridge, Samuel W. (Louisiana)
Vallot, Stephen V. (Louisiana)
Hermann, Jerry L. (Louisiana)
Rausch, Joseph W. (Louisiana)
Little, F. A. Jr. (Louisiana)
Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:05 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 3, 1986
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Widow and children of inmate who committed suicide while placed in solitary confinement
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Terrebonne Parish (Terrebonne), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1990 - None
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: