ECBAWM has secured nearly $5.2 million in settlements on behalf of the estates of Jose Mejia Martinez and Donny Ruben Ubiera, two men who died from methadone overdoses while incarcerated at Rikers Island. The settlements — $2.7 million for the estate of Jose Mejia Martinez and approximately $2.5 million for the estate of Donny Ruben Ubiera — resolve federal civil rights lawsuits alleging that correctional staff failed to respond appropriately to clear signs of medical and psychiatric distress and failed to provide timely, lifesaving care.

Both cases underscore the devastating consequences of systemic failures in the care and supervision of vulnerable individuals in custody. Jose Mejia Martinez, 34, died in June 2021 after officers allegedly ignored obvious signs of overdose for hours, despite repeated opportunities to intervene. Donny Ruben Ubiera, 33, who had a documented history of serious mental illness, died in August 2023 after ingesting methadone in a mental observation unit, where staff allegedly failed to provide adequate supervision, mental health care, and timely emergency intervention.

“My son needed care, compassion, and protection. Instead, he was left in an environment where his mental health worsened, his cries for help went unanswered, and the system failed him at every turn,” said Maricela Ubiera, mother of Donny Ubiera. “No mother should have to bury her child because the people responsible for his safety chose not to act. I hope Donny’s story leads to real change so no other family has to endure this pain.”

“When they arrived at Rikers, Jose Mejia Martinez and Donny Ubiera each needed mental health care, substance use treatment, and a safe environment,” said Katie Rosenfeld, Partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP. “Instead, the jail was a dangerous and toxic environment for people struggling with addiction and mental illness. On the day he died, officers failed to provide any aid to Mr. Mejia for many hours — even after they saw him losing consciousness, failing to respond to verbal prompts, slumped over on a table, being lifted out of his seat by two other people, and then being carried to a cell, where he then lay motionless for many hours. Jose deserved better: to live, overcome his struggles, and see his family again. But he was denied that chance by the broken jail system on Rikers Island.”

“These settlements reflect the devastating consequences of a correctional system that repeatedly failed two vulnerable men in its custody. Jose Mejia Martinez and Donny Ruben Ubiera each showed clear signs of medical and psychiatric distress, and in both cases, the City failed to provide the supervision, treatment, and emergency intervention that could have saved their lives. We hope these resolutions bring some measure of accountability and underscore the urgent need for meaningful reform at Rikers,” said Julia P. Kuan, Partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

ECBAWM attorneys Julia P. Kuan, Katie Rosenfeld, and Nick Bourland represent the estates of Jose Mejia Martinez and Donny Ruben Ubiera.

Read coverage on the filing below:

The City: They Overdosed in Plain View on Rikers Island. NYC Will Pay $5.2 Million