Cavalieri v. Shepard.

• Position: Attempted suicide suit - Brief Article

U.S. Appeals Court

SUICIDE

Cavalieri v. Shepard, 321 F.3d 616 (7th Cir. 2003). The mother of a pretrial detainee who attempted suicide brought a [section] 1983 action against a police officer, alleging deliberate indifference to the detainee's risk of attempting suicide. The district court denied summary judgment for the officer and the officer appealed. The appeals court affirmed. The appeals court held that summary judgment was precluded by an issue of fact as to whether the officer was aware that the detainee was on the verge of trying to commit suicide and whether the officer was deliberately indifferent to the detainee's safety. The court noted that the detainee's right to be free from deliberate indifference to the risk that he would attempt suicide was clearly established. The detainee was transferred to a county facility...