Patrick Ardagna Died Following Medical Emergency At Stanislaus County Jail
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (June 10, 2022) – An inmate identified as Patrick Ardagna has tragically died after being found unresponsive in his Stanislaus County jail cell.
Stanislaus County officials are saying that the incident took place on Thursday. Patrick Ardagna was in a cell with another inmate when he suffered some type of medical issue.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the inmate. Despite life-saving measures, Patrick Ardagna died at the scene.
A full investigation and autopsy remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Stanislaus County Inmate Deaths
Far too many inmates die while in custody every year. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018. The number of federal prisoners who died in the custody of a facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) increased from 378 in 2018 to 381 in 2019.” Many inmate deaths are totally preventable. There are a number of steps that jails can take in order to keep inmates safe.
- Jail staff should be properly trained to be able to tell when an inmate is experiencing a medical emergency.
- Jail staff should perform periodic safety checks on inmates.
- Jails should be properly staffed.
All inmates have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis for a negligence claim. For example, a jail may not have given an inmate proper care if they were experiencing an overdose. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any in custody death.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- An independent autopsy should be conducted.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be performed.
The family of any inmate that died in custody may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, jails will often fight hard to deny liability for any inmate that dies in their care. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Stanislaus County Inmate Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Patrick Ardagna. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about an inmate death in Stanislaus County? Our team of inmate’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need more information about an incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
