Tarrant County, Texas Jail Deaths

Our law firm filed suit two days ago against Tarrant County for the death of Javonte Myers. Mr. Myers’ body was not found for several hours after he passed away. His cause of death was apparently a seizure disorder.

We were shocked to learn from a news article yesterday of a situation involving Kelly Masten. According to the news report, Ms. Masten suffered with a form of epilepsy resulting in her not being able to communicate effectively. When family members called authorities for assistance, instead of being taken to an appropriate medical facility, she was taken to the Tarrant County jail. Family says that they were assured that she would be medically triaged at the jail and then taken to John Peter Smith Hospital. That apparently never happened.

Ms. Masten was apparently in the jail for ten days. When Ms. Masten ultimately arrived at John Peter Smith Hospital, her body was covered with bruises. She had a black eye and a bleeding lip. She did not have these injuries when she was arrested.

Ms. Masten is now on a ventilator and has little brain activity. Family suspects that she had repeated seizures while in the jail.

Our law firm continues to see far too many people with serious medical and mental health issues incarcerated in jails across Texas. Many are needlessly suffering and dying as a result. Our public officials must quickly take action to save lives.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.