Angela Lowe, the widow of R&B singer Sean Levert, who died suspiciously six days after being jailed back in March 2008, has settled her lawsuit against Cuyahoga County in Ohio and the umbrella company that oversees medical care at the jail.
The settlement, which was reached yesterday, is one of the largest in the state's history.
According to Lowe's attorney David Malik, the court documents do not contain admission of liability, but it was agreed overall that Levert's death was an unexpected tragedy.
Levert, who was 39 at the time of death, was arrested for back child support payments in excess of $90,000. He had three children from former relationships. The former member of the 1980's R&B group LeVert was not allowed to take his prescribed anti-anxiety medication, Xanax, during the entire time he was jailed.
A coroner's report revealed that the singer's death was a direct result of withdrawals from not being able to take the drug. Levert began to hallucinate in jail and had trouble breathing after guards shackled him to a restraint chair.
Medical negligence and absurd jail policies contributed to Levert's death. There was no provision in place for inmates to get their prescribed medications upon arrival, which meant that many had to go without them for long periods.
A year after Levert's untimely death, the jail adopted a policy stating that inmates taking anti-anxiety drugs should be given those meds once their prescriptions are verified. If the prescription can't be verified, the inmate should be scheduled to see a psychiatrist that day or the next.
"Sean's Law," named after Levert and sponsored in the Ohio General Assembly by State Rep. Barbara Boyd, mandates that every county jail give each inmate a thorough medical, dental and mental-health exam upon arrival.
Sean's father is lead O'Jays vocalist Eddie Levert.
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You're kidding, right? Why should she get a single penny for something that was HIS fault? If he'd paid his child support, he wouldn't have been arrested. Why the State caved in and settled this woman's ridiculous, frivolous lawsuit, I'll never understand. I bet she won't share a dime with his three illegitimate kids.
Wake up everyone!! Jails DO NOT care about the inmates...They are treated worse than animals at the humane society. Florida is the worst. Pregnant women have died and their unborn babies a swell down here due to pure negligence on the behalf of the jailers!!! We have got to do something to regulate this nationwide. I am glad his widow fought this and won!! It dosnt mayyer what you are arrested for, you still deserve medical treatment!!! This is the United States not a third world country for God sakes!!!!!
You are kidding, right? Any PRESCRIBED medication MUST have continual administration, no matter the circumstances. Whether it is jail, a hospital, the facility has a LEGAL responsibility to continue administering that medicine. In my medical opinion, Mr. Levert was a liability to the institution. Any person that takes medication as strong as Xanax for anxiety probably suffers from Angina Pectoris(tigtening of the chest), and Hypertension. The facility should have weighed the liability for an inmate that is in custody for a non-violent offense. The state paid that amount because the family was robbed of his ability to provide, however crappy he did it. Know more about medicine and the law before you make these reckless comments.
GOOD! LIKE SO MANY OTHERS I THOUGHT THAT SEAN'S DEATH WAS SUSPICIOUS TO BEGIN WITH, THE CAUSE OF WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVED WAS BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THAT CUYAHOGA'S ADMISSION OF GUILT WOULD HAVE BETTER SERVED TO GIVE SEAN'S WIDOW AND THE REST OF HIS FAMILY SOME CLOSURE.
Xanax is a highly habit forming drug and the medical staff at the jail had to know putting people in lock down without their prescribe medications is like putting a heart patient in lock down without his pills, both can lead to a heart attack. Xanax wracks havoc on a person without weeding the person off little by little, seizures and heart troubles and death are problems associated with instant withdrawals and no medical supervision.
All of this is true, but I still don't think the jail is at fault for his death. It was an unfortunate accident. We have become way to sue happy in nation. Policeman are not physicians..nore can we expect them to know all the side effects/adverse reactions or dangers of all medications.
Felicia, this is in reply to you not wanting to hold the jailers responsible, you ignorantly state that it is a unfortionate mistake. I would like to know if you are living in the twilight zone are is just plainly a lunatic! When someone is lock up in a cell without their medication which can be life threating and death for some, there is no such thing as a "mistake" The moment a person is arrested, the first question out of the jailer mouth should be, Do the arrestee take a medical prescribed medication. Being that they obviously don't asked this important question, The prisoner which can be innocent tell the guards about the need of their life saving medications, which is probably ignored. A lot of these people have their medications on them at time of arrest which is automatically taken away and they is made to suffer unnecessary inside of their cells until being found unconscious, Now of course they let them see the doctors though it may had came too damn late. Before you say things as foolish just put yourself in their positions "without your" medicine hour after hour pleading through the cell door for pills that they don't give a damn about.
It's sad that Sean Levert,lost his life this way and no amount of money in the world is going to replace him...God Bless to Sean's family and children.As far as the "police" they need to be held acccountable for what happened.That's the bottom line this is not something that should be let go.There needs to be an investigation into thee exact cause ,and who is directly RESPONSIBLE for his death,period.
Mannup, Thank you. You said it all. Msjustice you also are right there is no amount of money can replaced the life that is foolishly loss.
There is no punishment worst then a life taken throught ignorance.
Now the children who was without child support can never know the love of their father, the support of their father and share with others the joy of what a father really mean. There are many men out here that spend time with their children but do not pay child support. It wasn't just this one man that did not pay child support. And no matter what he paid or did not pay he did not desert to die as he did. Why he did not pay child support I do not know. And at this stage I can only pray that the children are being cared for through his social security.
Here in Chicago the Cook County Jail does the same thing. They refuse to give medicine to the inmates until a parent or spouse speak up. The jails and prisons are being sued every year for this very same reason. Playing God in anothers life is a high price to pay. Financially or Conscious minded.
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Comments: (43)
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By: Carol on 6/19/2010 7:48AM
Good for her!
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By: Sally on 6/21/2010 7:35AM
You're kidding, right? Why should she get a single penny for something that was HIS fault? If he'd paid his child support, he wouldn't have been arrested. Why the State caved in and settled this woman's ridiculous, frivolous lawsuit, I'll never understand. I bet she won't share a dime with his three illegitimate kids.
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By: mia on 6/21/2010 8:00AM
Wake up everyone!! Jails DO NOT care about the inmates...They are treated worse than animals at the humane society. Florida is the worst. Pregnant women have died and their unborn babies a swell down here due to pure negligence on the behalf of the jailers!!! We have got to do something to regulate this nationwide. I am glad his widow fought this and won!! It dosnt mayyer what you are arrested for, you still deserve medical treatment!!! This is the United States not a third world country for God sakes!!!!!
Report This
By: Toni on 6/25/2010 3:09PM
You are kidding, right? Any PRESCRIBED medication MUST have continual administration, no matter the circumstances. Whether it is jail, a hospital, the facility has a LEGAL responsibility to continue administering that medicine. In my medical opinion,
Mr. Levert was a liability to the institution. Any person that takes medication as strong as Xanax for anxiety probably suffers from Angina Pectoris(tigtening of the chest), and Hypertension. The facility should have weighed the liability for an inmate that is in custody for a non-violent offense. The state paid that amount because the family was robbed of his ability to provide, however crappy he did it. Know more about medicine and the law before you make these reckless comments.
Report This
By: Dara on 6/19/2010 11:41AM
GOOD! LIKE SO MANY OTHERS I THOUGHT THAT SEAN'S DEATH WAS SUSPICIOUS TO BEGIN WITH, THE CAUSE OF WHICH I STRONGLY BELIEVED WAS BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THAT CUYAHOGA'S ADMISSION OF GUILT WOULD HAVE BETTER SERVED TO GIVE SEAN'S WIDOW AND THE REST OF HIS FAMILY SOME CLOSURE.
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By: mannup on 6/19/2010 3:08PM
Xanax is a highly habit forming drug and the medical staff at the jail had to know putting people in lock down without their prescribe medications is like putting a heart patient in lock down without his pills, both can lead to a heart attack. Xanax wracks havoc on a person without weeding the person off little by little, seizures and heart troubles and death are problems associated with instant withdrawals and no medical supervision.
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By: Felicia on 6/20/2010 3:27PM
All of this is true, but I still don't think the jail is at fault for his death. It was an unfortunate accident. We have become way to sue happy in nation. Policeman are not physicians..nore can we expect them to know all the side effects/adverse reactions or dangers of all medications.
Report This
By: mannup on 6/20/2010 6:15PM
Felicia, this is in reply to you not wanting to hold the jailers responsible, you ignorantly state that it is a unfortionate mistake. I would like to know if you are living in the twilight zone are is just plainly a lunatic! When someone is lock up in a cell without their medication which can be life threating and death for some, there is no such thing as a "mistake" The moment a person is arrested, the first question out of the jailer mouth should be, Do the arrestee take a medical prescribed medication. Being that they obviously don't asked this important question, The prisoner which can be innocent tell the guards about the need of their life saving medications, which is probably ignored. A lot of these people have their medications on them at time of arrest which is automatically taken away and they is made to suffer unnecessary inside of their cells until being found unconscious, Now of course they let them see the doctors though it may had came too damn late. Before you say things as foolish just put yourself in their positions "without your" medicine hour after hour pleading through the cell door for pills that they don't give a damn about.
Report This
By: Msjustice on 6/20/2010 1:37PM
It's sad that Sean Levert,lost his life this way and no amount of money in the world is going to replace him...God Bless to Sean's family and children.As far as the "police" they need to be held acccountable for what happened.That's the bottom line this is not something that should be let go.There needs to be an investigation into thee exact cause ,and who is directly RESPONSIBLE for his death,period.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: catherine on 6/20/2010 7:54PM
Mannup, Thank you. You said it all. Msjustice you also are right there is no amount of money can replaced the life that is foolishly loss.
There is no punishment worst then a life taken throught ignorance.
Now the children who was without child support can never know the love of their father, the support of their father and share with others the joy of what a father really mean. There are many men out here that spend time with their children but do not pay child support. It wasn't just this one man that did not pay child support. And no matter what he paid or did not pay he did not desert to die as he did. Why he did not pay child support I do not know. And at this stage I can only pray that the children are being cared for through his social security.
Here in Chicago the Cook County Jail does the same thing. They refuse to give medicine to the inmates until a parent or spouse speak up. The jails and prisons are being sued every year for this very same reason. Playing God in anothers life is a high price to pay. Financially or Conscious minded.
Reply to this Comment | Report This