$2.2 Million Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Over Teenager’s Death in Jail

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) February 23, 2015 – A multi-million dollar settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a teenager who died at the Clay County Jail in Florida.

Daniel Linsinbigler, 19, asphyxiated and died while strapped into a restraint chair at the jail in March 2013. The family agreed to drop their lawsuit in exchange for $2.2 million.

“While a monetary settlement cannot ever make up for losing a loved one, a wrongful death lawsuit can help provide some compensation for a grieving family,” said Robert Joyce, a Tampa wrongful death attorney with Joyce & Reyes. Joyce is not involved in the case.

Police reports state that Linsinbigler was arrested on March 2, 2013 after entering the rooms of his neighbors at an Orange Park hotel. The teen had a history of mental illness and had suffered an apparent mental breakdown after smoking synthetic marijuana. Police found Linsinbigler naked and proclaiming himself to be Jesus Christ.

After Linsinbigler spent several days in jail, an incident occurred that led to his death, according to an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Witnesses said that Linsinbigler had an outburst and began screaming and kicking his cell door. According to witnesses, corrections officers pepper-sprayed the young man and placed him in a restraint chair with a mask over his head. Witnesses said he called for help, saying that he could not breathe and was having chest pains, before he eventually fell silent.

The state Medical Examiner ruled Linsinbigler’s death a homicide, but an investigation found that jail officials had not committed any wrongdoing.

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A. 307 S Hyde Park Ave Tampa, FL 33606 Call: 813.251.2007