Claim of Negligence in Jail Death Denied

An Orange County Superior Court jury Wednesday unanimously rejected a mother’s claim that her drug-addicted son died after being neglected in Orange County Jail.

David Madrigal, 29, of Santa Ana was arrested Nov. 10, 1994, for violating his parole stemming from two prior burglary convictions. A known heroin user, Madrigal was suffering from withdrawal--a fact he told the jail nurse, according to jail records.

Madrigal’s mother filed a lawsuit claiming that for three days, her son cried out in pain from his withdrawal symptoms but that no one helped. On his fourth day in jail, Madrigal was found motionless on his cell floor about 5:15 a.m. amid evidence of vomiting and diarrhea, according to the suit.

An autopsy revealed that Madrigal died of bronchopneumonia--a severe lung infection--while symptoms of drug withdrawal were listed as other conditions.

Outside the courtroom, Madrigal’s mother, Edith Patron, stood stunned by the jury’s decision.

“This was my son,� she said. “He doesn’t deserve to die like that, in a way worse than an animal.�

Attorney Tracy Strickland, who defended Orange County during the trial, disputed the contention that Madrigal had repeatedly sought medical help, and added that jail officials had no way of knowing Madrigal’s severe medical condition.

After the verdict, a juror who spoke on condition she not be identified said a key factor in the decision was the lack of evidence that Madrigal requested medical help.