SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) — The family of a California inmate who died while in jail claims he was not given his medication and allowed to stay in a cell with fecal matter and trash throughout.
The Estate of Lonnie Rupad and others filed a complaint July 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against the County of San Diego, Bill Gore, Coast Medical Associates and others, alleging wrongful death, negligence and other claims.
Rupad, according to the plaintiffs' complaint, was in custody at the San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) on March 17, 2022. They claim Rupad suffered from schizophrenia and that the SDCJ neglected his basic care needs despite obvious signs he was in need of medical care.
The plaintiffs specifically claim that Rupad died from pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration and that he did not receive the "most basic level of human dignity and care," including being allowed to go without his medications for more than a month and his cell being full of feces with trash.
They further claim that his care while in custody at the SDCJ was so bad that the medical examiner ruled his death as a homicide. The plaintiffs allege that the SDCJ has a history of inadequate medical and mental health care and a higher inmate death rate than other large county jails in the state. They also allege the SDCJ has inconsistent visual checks to ensure the health and safety of its detainees.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. They are represented by Jeremiah Lowe and Victoria Lazar of Lowe Lazar Law LLP and Daniel Gilleon of The Gilleon Law Firm in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California case number 23-CV-1357-CAB-BLM