Does this family deserve any $$$

[Pflugerville Ag]

What do you guys think? Does this woman's family deserve any money from the Phoenix police department? She was arrested in the Phoenix airport last year b/c she went on a rage after missing her flight. She was intoxicated and put into a holding cell. She tried to get out of her handcuffs and ended up strangling herself to death by accident. Now the family is suing for $8M b/c the police used "excessive and unreasonable force". I don't think they deserve anything. She fought with police and was a danger to herself and others. Noone forced her to try and get her handcuffs off. Her death, while sad for her family, is her fault only IMO.

Thoughts?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/law/03/26/airport.death/index.html

[Pumchavas28]

Hell No!!!!!!! :headslap:

[jagowar]

nope.... looks like a pretty clear case of suicide.

[aggie1997]

No way. Just an attempt to get rich.

[whitelightnin_23]

I am wondering if she should have been monitored (while in the holding cell)...I'm not sure of standard procedures...but, that would be the only logical loophole (that I see) where they would be entitled to $$.

[Bw135]

You gotta have some type of monitoring protocol, be it a person physically in there watching them or someone watching them via camera. I know some places use a civilian that monitors prisoners using a camera in the jail area, and if something starts happening they have to call an actual jailer or officer to go in there, so there's a delay of a least a minute or 2. That still wouldn't be grounds to give the family 8 mil.....

The other thing is, i used to work in the airline industry before 9/11 and you didn't have to do too much to get arrested in the airport. You can imagine what it's like now, post 9/11. You look at somebody sideways and next thing ya know you're strangling yourself to death in a holding cell. The moral of the story is, don't get drunk and go into a rage.

[Bw135]

She was left alone in a holding cell at the airport and subsequently died, accidentally strangling herself while trying to escape her handcuffs.


Hmmmm, just saw this part...... oops :wow:

[Vlyrock]

Yes, but this is the catch-all...
subsequently died, accidentally strangling herself while trying to escape her handcuffs.

She did it herself. If she had evaded arrest and fell over a railing, she'd still be responsible -- even though the police were "chasing her" causing it to happen. She chose to try to escape, she now lives with the consequences (or dies with them).

[DCAggie]

Yes, but this is the catch-all...


She did it herself. If she had evaded arrest and fell over a railing, she'd still be responsible -- even though the police were "chasing her" causing it to happen. She chose to try to escape, she now lives with the consequences (or dies with them).

If she were evading, that'd be her problem, but she wasn't. She was in the government's custody, which makes her the government's responsibility. They ignored someone whom they knew to be pretty damn intoxicated (I assume since I've seen a lot of drunk people allowed on planes), and didn't check on her well being even though she was in their charge. I'd say that her family has a pretty good case.

[Pflugerville Ag]

I disagree DC. Had she died of alcohol poisoning, a heart attack, etc, then I would think the family had a case. Since she died out of her own stupidity trying to get out of her handcuffs, then they family does not deserve a dime.

[DCAggie]

I disagree DC. Had she died of alcohol poisoning, a heart attack, etc, then I would think the family had a case. Since she died out of her own stupidity trying to get out of her handcuffs, then they family does not deserve a dime.

Who knows what a jury will say, but the fact is they locked her knowing that she was incapacitated and not in a rational frame of mind and then just left her alone. If you take custody of someone, by definition, you have responsibility for them.

I'm not saying the family will win, but there's no doubt that they have a good case.

[PinetarAg]

I agree with DC on this one...as stupid as she was and as stupid as it maybe to bring a case up like this...the family does have a case....and imo a fairly good case...

i think the hang up would be with the amount of money they are asking for....and charging them with "excessive force"....it has to be something like failure to monitor

[Loftin]

I have no sympathy for those who resist arrest. Give her a Darwin award and let the police do their job.

[Pflugerville Ag]

I remember seeing the survellience video of the arrest from the airport when this first happened. There was no excessive force since she was fighting the cops and resisting arrest. They were just doing their jobs.