Press Release: Tarrant County Agrees to $750,000 Judgment Against it in Federal Lawsuit Regarding Jail Death of Mentally Ill Woman
Tarrant County Agrees to $750,000 Judgment Against it in Federal Lawsuit Regarding Jail Death of Mentally Ill Woman
For Immediate Release
Fort Worth, Texas – 09/27/2024
52-year-old Georgia Baldwin was incarcerated in the Tarrant County jail after a severe mental health episode. Ms. Baldwin allegedly left voicemail messages for a law enforcement officer employed by the City of Arlington, Texas Police Department. It was clear from her voicemail messages that she had significant mental health issues. Regardless, she was arrested and incarcerated in the Tarrant County jail for a lengthy period of time.
Throughout Ms. Baldwin’s incarceration at the Tarrant County jail, she continued to evidence severe mental health issues. There was no doubt to anyone in the jail that she could not care for her own needs and needed inpatient mental health treatment at an appropriate facility. Ms. Baldwin, through her many statements and actions, showed that she was out of touch with reality. Regardless, Tarrant County continued to incarcerate her.
Ms. Baldwin died in a Tarrant County jail. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Tarrant County conducted an autopsy. The autopsy report indicated that Ms. Baldwin had severe hypernatremic dehydration. Ms. Baldwin’s listed cause of death was “severe hypernatremia, etiology undetermined.” Hypernatremia is a high concentration of sodium in the blood.
Constitutional rights lawyer Dean Malone represents Ms. Baldwin’s adult children and filed a federal lawsuit regarding her death. Mr. Malone’s firm and Tarrant County litigated the case, taking depositions and conducting other discovery. The parties participated in an unsuccessful mediation. After the mediation, Tarrant County offered to have a $750,000.00 judgment taken against it. Copies of the offer and acceptance are collectively attached to this press release.
Mr. Malone said, “It is unfortunate in cases like this that counties do not at the beginning of a case, when they already know everything that happened, make a meaningful effort to resolve the case. We filed this case well over a year ago. Regardless, even though the judgment amount is inadequate when measured against the suffering and loss of life, if nothing else, perhaps resolution of this case will lead to changes not only in the Tarrant County jail, but also other jails across Texas.
Tarrant County $750,000 Judgment (Dean Malone)
Dean Malone
Dean Malone