Alaska’s prison system is facing two additional wrongful death lawsuits from families whose loved ones lost their lives while behind bars.
According to reports, one of the victims was pronounced dead at the hands of his cellmate in December. The other victim was found dead in a booking cell in 2014. She was actually the fourth inmate to lose their life while in custody in 2014.
After an independent review, the Alaska Department of Corrections maintained that the deaths were not out of the ordinary since 10 – 12 people die in Alaskan jails annually.
In the two most recent lawsuits, the family maintain that their loved ones died because of negligence, improper training and failure of supervision on behalf of jail staff. A spokesperson said that the two deaths have prompted internal reviews within the DOC.
What Can be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Both families in the two most recent lawsuits maintain that their goal is to make sure that current procedures are reviewed for possible correction so that treatment and care of offenders can be improved.
The term “wrongful death” is one used to describe an occurrence in which someone dies due to neglect or carelessness of another person or institution. While no lawsuit can begin to fill the void of a lost loved one, they can be used to recover lost expenses, including:
- Loss of income
- Burial and funeral costs
- Medical costs incurred as a result of the injury
- Pain and suffering of the victim before their death
- Lost child or spousal support
Barber & Associate Can Help You
Here at Barber & Associates, we realize that losing a loved one is among the most devastating things a person and family will experience. The pain can be substantially more if the loss is the result of someone else’s negligence.
If you and your family have experienced what you feel to be the wrongful death of a loved one, we want talk with you about your options.
We encourage you to contact us at by calling 907-276-5858 or sending an email for a free consultation.