New York City will pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Oswald Livermore, who died in May 2007 while being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex. Mr. Livermore suffered from severe alcohol withdrawal, exhibiting agitation and disorientation within hours of arriving at the jail. In spite of proper procedure for such symptoms, which includes hospitalization, Mr. Livermore was kept in the general population and given no treatment. He died roughly 28 hours after his arrival at the jail.

The case raises serious questions about effective communication among the Department of Corrections staff, as well as the effectiveness of medical services provided to the City’s prisoners, many of whom suffer from drug and alcohol problems. Mr. Livermore’s family is represented by ECBAWM’s Jonathan Abady, Katherine Rosenfeld, and Debbie Greenberger, alongside the Legal Aid Society.

“City Will Pay $2 Million After an Inmate’s Death,” The New York Times