The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Tex. — Dallas County commissioners voted Tuesday to settle a federal lawsuit over the death of a jail inmate that family members say was caused by medical neglect.
Commissioners agreed to spend $210,000 to settle the suit brought by the family of Frank Nelson Palo Jr., who died in the jail in 2004. The family alleged the county violated Mr. Palo’s constitutional rights by denying him medication that was prescribed to treat his hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
The 51-year-old Dallas man suffered a heart attack and died seven days after being booked into the jail. The suit said he repeatedly asked jail guards and nurses for his heart medication but that his pleas were ignored. Mr. Palo also called his sister numerous times to tell her he wasn’t receiving his heart medication, according to the suit.
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News