Attorneys Want Punitive Damages To Send Message To Prisons About Treatment Of Mentally Ill
A trial over the treatment of Jermaine Padilla, who was seen being pepper sprayed and dragged out screaming and strapped naked to a gurney for 72 hours, is under way.
Sacramento Bee:
Mentally Ill Inmates Seek Punitive Damages To Change State Prisons
In a trial underway in front of U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, plaintiffs want a jury to find nine corrections department employees liable for malice and oppression to rectify abuses they say their client suffered during a brutal 2012 cell extraction. Along with general damages, the attorneys say a punitive award would send a message to the prison system and its staff on how to carry out the best practices – and avoid the worst – when inmates have full-blown psychotic breakdowns. (Furillo, 4/24)
In other news from across the state —
Orange County Register:
New Hospital After-Care For Homeless Opens In Midway City Specializing In Mental Illness, Substance Abuse
The Illumination Foundation has opened a new 55-bed around-the-clock shelter where Orange County homeless patients with mental health or substance abuse struggles can recover after a hospitalization. The Midway City facility is the fourth recuperative-care site the Irvine nonprofit has opened in Orange and Los Angeles counties to give patients a safe place to recover. (Perkes, 4/24)
KPBS Public Media:
Sharp Program Helps Elderly San Diegans Get Medical Care At Home
The Transitions program was launched in 2007. The program's chief medical officer, Dr. Daniel Hoefer, came up with the idea, after years of observing a reoccurring problem with many of his elderly patients. Those who had heart failure, dementia and other serious health issues would reach a point when they would frequently go in and out of the hospital. (Goldberg, 4/25)
KPCC:
Agencies To Leave Methane Monitoring At Porter Ranch To Private Companies
A well at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field had blown out on October 23, 2015, and spewed 109,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere until it was sealed in mid February of the following year. ... But now after months of normal readings, the last two public-funded monitors operated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District will be pulled out in June. (McNary, 4/24)