Wrongful death suit involving inmate moves toward trial

<p>A U.S. district court judge in San Francisco has rejected legal motions that would have eliminated Sonoma County and Sheriff Bill Cogbill as defendants in a civil law suit involving the in-custody death of a county jail inmate three years ago. The case is set for trial on Jan. 24.</p><p>Attorneys for Ryan George, a 25-year-old inmate who on July 9, 2007 succumbed to an acute sickle cell anemia crisis, claim that the county, its contracted medical staff, Cogbill and the doctors who treated George outside of jail before he died failed to provide adequate medical treatment that would have save him.</p><p>On Tuesday, Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte ruled that “in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, a reasonable jury could find that County Defendants were deliberately indifferent to the provision of the basic necessities of life.” Laporte also ruled that certain claims against Cogbill, in his role as a supervisor, could also go to trial.</p><p>“We feel very confident,” said Steven Wittels of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, the attorney for George's family. “We have a number of qualified experts on sickle cell anemia as well experts who are familiar with jail policies. All of them agree that this was a gross violation of his rights as a prisoner and a person.”</p><p>Greg Spaulding of Spaulding McCullough & Tansil, the firm representing the county and Cogbill, said he was confident Cogbill would not be held responsible.</p><p>“He shouldn't be in this case,” Spaulding said.</p><p>Laporte's decisions Tuesday were part of a number of rulings granting in part and denying in part motions for summary judgement — motions made by defendants to have certain aspects of the law suit, or entire lawsuit, thrown out before trial.</p><p>Laporte also denied several motions for summary judgement made by medical staff at Sutter Medical Center who treated George.</p><p>Spaulding said that a settlement conference is scheduled for November.</p>