LA County Settles Inmate Medical Neglect Suit for $7M

Case Background

In a high-profile civil rights lawsuit that captured public attention, Plaintiff Gariel Brownlee sued the County of Los Angeles and numerous county officials, including medical doctors and supervisory staff. Mr. Brownlee brought the suit after his time in County custody, asserting that severe failures in medical treatment and supervision had caused him lasting harm. The case moved through the federal district Court system, where both sides had prepared for a lengthy jury trial until they ultimately reached a settlement agreement.

Cause

Mr. Brownlee’s core allegation centered on a deprivation of his fundamental rights, specifically referencing Federal Civil Rights Statute 42 U.S.C. This statute allows individuals to sue state or local government officials for constitutional rights violations. Brownlee contended that the Defendants, acting under color of state law, provided treatment that amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, violated his due process rights, and constituted serious medical malpractice and neglect. The complaint asserted that the County’s policies and customs fostered an environment of systemic disregard for the well-being of individuals in custody, which directly led to the injuries he sustained.

Injury

The Plaintiff stated he suffered from severe, lasting physical injury and profound emotional distress because of the alleged lack of adequate and timely medical care. The specific nature of the medical condition and the resulting complication became a critical point of contention throughout the discovery phase. His attorneys argued that the negligent acts and failures to act by County personnel had caused permanent impairment, demanding life-long care and resulting in significant pain and suffering.

Damages Sought

Mr. Brownlee sought substantial financial relief from the Court. The damages he demanded included compensatory damages to cover his current and future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and physical and emotional suffering. Additionally, he pursued punitive and exemplary damages against the individual Defendants, arguing that their conduct had been malicious, oppressive, or showed a willful disregard for his rights. He also asked for statutory penalties, prejudgment interest, and reimbursement for his substantial legal fees and costs.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, involved years of intense discovery, depositions, and motions as both legal teams meticulously prepared their evidence for trial.

Legal Representation

Plaintiff(s): Gariel Brownlee

·       Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Kevin S. Conlogue | Thomas S. Feher | Ashley M Conlogue |

Defendant(s): County of Los Angeles | Parvaneh P. Zolnouni | Vance Fredrickson | Jorge Orozco

·       Counsel for Defendant(s): Avi Burkwitz | Gil Burkwitz | Gayane Muradyan | Avery Canty | Vincent Contreras | David Jay Weiss

Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel

The legal battle centered on whether the County’s established standard of care met the constitutional requirement of not constituting “deliberate indifference” to a person’s serious medical needs.

Claims

Plaintiff's counsel forcefully argued that a catastrophic breakdown in the custodial and medical system caused Mr. Brownlee’s injuries. They asserted that multiple Defendants, including doctors and supervisory staff, had been made aware of the Plaintiff’s escalating medical crisis but consistently failed to provide the necessary diagnostic tests or specialized care. The legal team claimed the County had known about systemic problems in its medical infrastructure for years but deliberately failed to fix them, establishing a pattern of negligence and unconstitutional practice.

Defense

Attorneys representing the County and its staff mounted a vigorous defense, arguing that the medical treatment provided to Mr. Brownlee had remained within the acceptable standards of care for a custodial setting. The defense team highlighted the challenges inherent in providing complex medical treatment within a large correctional environment. They contended that their client’s injuries resulted from pre-existing conditions or circumstances outside the control of the County staff. They insisted that the individual Defendants had acted reasonably and in good faith when they provided their professional judgment and care.

Settlement

Just as the Court prepared to select a jury and begin opening statements, the parties announced they had reached a confidential settlement. The parties concluded negotiations after a lengthy mediation process, preventing the need for a public trial and a verdict from the jury. The County of Los Angeles and the other Defendants agreed to pay Gariel Brownlee a total settlement amount of $7,000,000 (Seven Million Dollars) to resolve all claims he had brought in the lawsuit. This substantial sum settled the claims related to the civil rights violations, medical negligence, and other associated torts. The agreement immediately concluded the contentious litigation, avoiding further legal expenses and the uncertainty of a jury verdict.

The settlement did not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the County or any of the individual Defendants, but it provided Brownlee with the substantial compensation he had sought for his injuries and suffering. The payment marked the end of the legal dispute, concluding the case that had focused national attention on the quality of medical care provided within correctional facilities.

Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com