El Dorado County is being blamed for the death of a man who killed himself while in custody at the county jail.
The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/2cxXkJ7 ) that a lawsuit filed in Sacramento federal court last week claims Lawrence Spies Jr.'s death could have been prevented if his medical needs had been met. Spies had a history of depression, hospitalizations for mental illness and failed suicide attempts.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified monetary damages as compensation for alleged deliberate indifference to serious medical needs; wrongful death; professional negligence; medical malpractice; and failure on the part of the county and its medical provider to supervise, investigate and discipline those responsible for Spies' death.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Tasha Thompson declined to comment on the pending litigation.
