Governmental liaility and civil rights Archives | Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Blog

Family member is diabetic and had an amputation in prison due to poor medical care

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It depends on the circumstances, but your family member may be able to sue the prison. Recently, a diabetic inmate in Georgia won $550,000 after his leg was amputated. The man slipped and fell, opening up a cut above his ankle. As a diabetic, he was prone to infection, but the wound was allowed to become toxic and he ultimately needed an amputation.

Although inmates do forfeit many of their legal rights when they enter prison, they are still entitled to receive the same medical treatment as other patients if they become ill or suffer an injury. Simply because a person is incarcerated does not mean they can be denied proper medical treatment or provided with substandard treatment.

If a prisoner does not receive the proper medical care, there are several possible causes of action available to the prisoner, including medical malpractice claims as well as constitutional violations. Prisoners may bring medical malpractice claims in state court against the prison facility and/or the doctor or other medical provider. Normally, these cases require the testimony of expert witnesses who can review the medical care, and determine if it was proper.

Medical malpractice cases against prisons and prison doctors can be challenging, but many are successful. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney at 310-385-0567 if your loved one has been seriously injured by poor medical treatment by a prison. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

What can I do if my family member was harmed in the Los Angeles foster care system?

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I am so sorry to hear that you have a family member who hurt in the foster care system. Sadly, being treated poorly or experiencing abuse in the foster care system is not unheard of. Your family member may have legal options that can help him or her obtain compensation which can help the child get the therapy that is needed, as well as to help rebuild his or her life.

Children are placed in foster care in Los Angeles when their parents cannot provide the proper care for them, or because they do not have anyone to care for them. Foster homes are intended to provide a short-term home for a child until he or she can be reunited with his or her family, or until a suitable long-term home can be found. Foster care is designed to provide a supportive and safe environment for children, but that is not always what occurs. Children can tragically suffer from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in a foster home.

The foster care system in California is set up so that abusive conditions are not allowed to occur, but in reality that is not what happens. Many foster care families are not properly screened before entering the system. Case workers may have a huge workload and may not be able to properly monitor children. Abusive situations could go unnoticed if children are moved frequently, or if they are too young or scared to speak up.

If the foster care system fails to properly prevent children from being harmed, the child can bring a lawsuit against the system for damages. A guardian may need to be appointed in order to pursue the lawsuit. Monetary damages can help the child receive the therapy and education needed to have a happy and successful life later.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney, if you suspect that a child in your family has been harmed in the foster care system. My team can help the child recover compensation. Call us today at 310-385-0567. We can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

If I am hurt while being arrested in Los Angeles, can I sue the police?

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Being a police officer in Los Angeles can be an extremely difficult job, even under the best of circumstances. The jobs of police officers often involve violence. In many cases, force is necessary and justified on the part of the police officer.

In some cases, however, police officers do abuse their power. When that happens, the police must be held accountable. In some situations, the agency or governmental entity that the police officer works for can be held legally liable, particularly if it failed to properly screen potential officers before hiring them, or if it failed to properly train law enforcement officers. In the past several years, there have been several incidents that made nationwide news in which police officers used or allegedly used excessive force, which in some cases resulted in riots.

There are a variety of actions that can constitute wrongful conduct by police. Those actions include shootings, sexual assaults, the use of excessive force when apprehending a suspect, false imprisonment, and other types of wrongful actions. In recent years, it has become easier to prove that police brutality occurred because of the widespread use of smart phones, which can record such incidents.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of police brutality, you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible. Time limitations apply, and the longer you wait the more difficult it may be to bring a case. Call me, Los Angeles civil rights attorney Conal Doyle, at 310-385-0567. I will provide you with a free consultation on your case.