Coleman Ex Rel. Coleman v. Parkman.

• Position: Deliberate indefference lead to suicide - Brief Article

U.S. Appeals Court

SUICIDE

Coleman Ex Rel. Coleman v. Parkman, 349 F.3d 534 (8th Cir. 2003). The administratix of a pretrial detainee's estate brought an action, alleging that prison officials had been deliberately indifferent to the risk that the detainee would commit suicide. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants in part, and the parties appealed. The appeals court affirmed in part and dismissed in part. The appeals court held that summary judgment was precluded by genuine issues of material fact as to whether the arresting officer knew that the detainee presented a substantial suicide risk, and whether a jailer recklessly failed to take reasonable measures. The arresting officer had been told by someone who was with the detainee before his arrest, that the detainee had been carrying a rifle and threatening suicide. After interviewing the detainee, the officer concluded he was not a suicide risk. Jail records stated that the detainee...