$1 Million in Settlement Reached for Death of Juvenile While in Detention

A 16-year-old girl was incarcerated at a county juvenile detention center.She had a history of chronic depression and other mental health issues, was noted to be irritable and at risk for self-injurious behavior and suicide.

During her approximately two-month stay, this young woman was placed on suicide watch many times. Medications included Abilify, which was prescribed to help with her mood and anxiety.

This detainee experienced chest pains and increased anxiety. She asked the probation officer if she could see a mental health expert. The next day she complained to a physician that the Abilify was not working and that she was experiencing panic attacks. The doctor referred the young woman to a psychiatrist. Several hours later however, the woman barricaded herself in her room and hanged herself with a bedsheet. She is survived by her parents.

The young woman’s mother individually, and on behalf of the estate and family, sued the county claiming negligence and negligent hiring, supervision and control. The defendant denied it had been negligent.

A mediation was held and the case was settled for $1 million. The attorneys representing the family of the young woman were Brody A. McBride and Gerald B. Singleton.

The plaintiff engaged experts in juvenile confinement for purposes of developing the standard of care and negligence in this unfortunate case.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death cases, medical negligence cases, nursing home abuse cases and birth injury cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of another for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and surrounding areas including, Bannockburn, Berwyn, Deerfield, Elmwood Park, River Grove, Rosemont, Streamwood, Willowbrook, Wood Dale, Winfield, Zion, Lake Bluff, Gurnee, Hinsdale, Joliet, Elgin, Aurora and Evanston, Ill.