Jury awards $8 million to kin of ex-Marine in jail suicide

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - A jury has awarded the family of a Marine combat veteran from New York who hanged himself in a county jail nearly $8 million.

Newsday (https://nwsdy.li/2o6UL2B ) reports the jury found the health care company at the Nassau County jail and the county negligent in Bartholomew Ryan’s 2012 death. It awarded $7 million in punitive damages and $890,000 in compensatory damages.

Ryan’s family contended the Iraq war veteran did not get proper care after an arrest on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs. The lawsuit said a screening at the jail showed he was a suicide risk.

An attorney for the health care provider argued the jury unfairly awarded damages twice for pain and suffering.

A county attorney said officials properly evaluated, housed and supervised Ryan.

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Information from: Newsday, https://www.newsday.com