$8.3 million settlement over death of jail inmate

"OAKLAND -- A record-breaking settlement [$8.3 million] over the death of an Oakland man who died after being beaten and Tased by Santa Rita Jail deputies requires better health care in Alameda County jails and is projected to set a higher standard of care in jails and prisons nationwide.

"Martin Harrison's legacy will be safer care for jail and prison inmates around the country," said Julia Sherwin of Haddad & Sherwin. "His family ... was committed to making sure that Martin's death was not in vain. They have succeeded completely.  The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to -- along with its jail medical services provider Corizon Health, Inc. -- pay $8.3 million to Martin Harrison's four adult children. The county in 2013 settled with Harrison's fifth and minor child for $1 million in a separate lawsuit.

Total for this incident now at $9.3 million. One of these days incompetent public officials and insurance companies  will figure out that it's cheaper to run a decent jail  rather than to pay millions in settlements.