The family of Lashawn Thompson reached a $4 million settlement with Fulton County in the death of Thompson, who was found dead in a cell on the county jail’s psychiatric floor covered in bed bugs and insects last year.
Fulton County commissioners voted six to zero to approve the family’s settlement, 11 Alive reported. The outlet noted that the settlement comes two months after the family released the results of a private autopsy of Thompson, which showed that he died from “severe neglect.”
The family’s settlement also comes as another inmate at Fulton County Jail was found dead in his cell on Monday, August 1, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Montay Stinson, 40, was found unresponsive in his cell and showed “no obvious signs of injury” when found.
These incidents come weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia launched a civil investigation into the conditions at Fulton County Jail, as previously reported by The Georgia Star News.
Living conditions, medical and mental health care, use of excessive force, and protection from violence will be examined throughout the investigation, as well as the determination of whether Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office discriminate against persons with psychiatric disabilities inside the jail.
In light of the allegations of the jail, including Thompson’s death, the investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“People in prisons and jails are entitled to basic protections of their civil rights,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement at the time of the investigation announcement. “During this comprehensive review of the conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail, the Justice Department will determine whether systemic violations of federal laws exist, and if so, how to correct them.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network.
Photo “Lashawn Thompson” by Justice For LashawnThompson.
