On February 09, 2007, Plaintiff filed a civil action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Sheridan County and various individuals in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, 7 North Platte Division. Plaintiff is the personal representative of the estate of an inmate who committed suicide while detained in the Sheridan County Jail. Plaintiff claimed that Defendants' negligent conduct deprived the deceased of rights, privileges and immunities secured by the U.S. Constitution. Particularly, Plaintiff claimed that the deceased was deprived of his constitutional liberty interest in due process, equal protection and bodily integrity and in freedom from excessive punishment and indifference to his medical needs. Plaintiff asked the court for both compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, and other relief that the court might deem equitable and proper.

After a few rounds of dismissals and amendments, Plaintiff filed a fifth amended complaint on February 10, 2009, which became the surviving complaint of this action. In May 2010, right before the scheduled trial, the parties notified the court of a possible settlement and the scheduled trial was cancelled. On May 06, 2010, Plaintiff filed a motion to enforce settlement with the court. On May 07, 2010, the parties held a hearing before Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken to resolve some disputes over the settlement agreement. A settlement agreement was finally reached. On September 15, 2010, the court granted Plaintiff's motion to dismiss, subject to the preservation of claims contained in the settlement agreement between the parties.

Although a copy of the settlement agreement is not immediately available, in an interview with the local press, the attorney for the plaintiff detailed its terms. Defendant agreed to pay $100,000.00 to the mother of the dead prisoner and to provide training in suicide prevention.

Xin Chen - 01/04/2011


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