Ohio mother awarded $150,000 after son’s suicide

October 3, 2012

The family of a teenager who killed himself in prison has sued the psychiatrist who was treating him, as well as a social worker, the prison, and others who his mother claims were indifferent to her son’s suicidal tendencies, reports the Insurance Journal.

Because of a federal law that shields government officials in some cases, the psychiatrist argued that he should receive immunity, but a three judge committee of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that he was not immune since he was employed by a private company while working part time in the Butler County Prison system.

The lawsuit is the result of the suicide of a 19-year-old young man after he was denied access to talk to his psychiatrist about his depression, his history of suicide attempts, and his medication needs. The lawsuit also said that the young man spoke of his problems to the prison staff and that he was wrongfully put in a cell alone when he was classified as on “suicide alert.”

Butler County settled its part of the lawsuit with the mother this year, paying her $150,000. She is seeking a higher but unspecified amount in the lawsuit against the psychiatrist, his employer, and the social worker involved.

The Ohio personal injury lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy extend our condolences to the family and friends of the young man.

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