Arias Sanguinetti Obtains Seven-Figure Settlement in Monterey Jail Cases
Elise Sanguinetti and Jamie Goldstein of Arias Sanguinetti obtained a seven-figure settlement after settling three of the eight cases the firm filed against Monterey County Jail.
The settlements were obtained against the jail which has been involved in a decade-long pattern of abuse, harm and wrongful death of its inmates. The families of eight individuals who died while in custody turned to the firm for help in obtaining justice and getting answers.
Through years of litigation, the firm uncovered a series of tragic deaths highlighted by the neglect and mismanagement of Monterey County Jail and Wellpath, a private company that provides medical services to jails and prisons throughout the United States.
“No amount of money can bring back their loved ones, but the families are grateful that through litigation we have all been able to shine a light on the awful behavior of the jail and its private contractor Wellpath,” said attorney Elise Sanguinetti.
After a 2015 class action settlement required a plan to be put in place for Monterey County Jail and Wellpath, there have been visits by neutral monitors to evaluate whether they had been abiding by the court’s ruling. However, those reports remained under seal until August of 2023 when the glaring lack of compliance was made public. The reports showed that Wellpatch was repeatedly non-compliant, often scoring under 50% in various categories. The following month, a judge ruled that Wellpath was out of compliance in 43 of 44 categories, and the private healthcare company couldn’t provide a single piece of evidence to substantiate any compliance in the jail whatsoever.
“It’s not a surprise that there was a devastating human toll resulting from Monterey County Jail and Wellpath failing to take proper precautions with human life,” added attorney Jamie Goldstien. “This awful loss of life is preventable, and we hope the significant financial consequences of their behavior will change life for inmates at the jail.”
About Arias Sanguinetti
Arias Sanguinetti’s civil rights attorneys represent people who have suffered serious harm, injury, and death at the hands of law enforcement, state facilities, employers, corporations and more. We also handle civil rights appeals cases, working closely with other law firms to make sure verdicts and cases are protected. Our premier team of lawyers has been honored by legal publications and peer groups for obtaining top results for clients in seriously complex matters.
