San Diego County Settles Lawsuit for $15 Million in Jail Death Case

San Diego County has reached a settlement in a long-running lawsuit stemming from the tragic death of Elisa Serna, a 24-year-old pregnant woman who died in the Las Colinas jail nearly five years ago. The county, along with its private healthcare contractor, will pay a total of $15 million to the Serna family. San Diego County taxpayers will bear the majority of the monetary damages, amounting to $14 million, while the Coast Correctional Medical Group will contribute $1 million.

The settlement was reached after a 12-hour negotiating session and was confirmed by the federal judge overseeing the case. This settlement marks the largest ever approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in a wrongful-death case. Over the past five years, the county has paid more than $75 million for deputy negligence or misconduct.

As part of the agreement, the Sheriff’s Department will conduct new training for deputies and jail medical staff, with a focus on compassion. The policy on checking vital signs of incarcerated individuals in the medical observation unit will also be updated. Sheriff Kelly Martinez, who was not in office at the time of Serna’s death, expressed her commitment to improving the jail system and ensuring the safety of all inmates and employees.

The settlement also includes a provision for the elected sheriff to be under formal U.S. government oversight for the next 12 months, marking a significant development. The agreement further requires Martinez to personally meet with Elisa’s parents, Michael and Paloma Serna, who have become advocates for reform.

Paloma Serna emphasized that the monetary compensation was not the driving force behind their decision to settle the case. She intends to continue fighting for reforms within the Sheriff’s Department, stating that no amount of money can bring back her daughter.

Elisa Serna’s death occurred in November 2019, five days after she was booked into the Santee women’s jail. The civil lawsuit revealed that she did not receive the necessary medical care despite showing signs of distress and informing officials about her drug and alcohol use. Video evidence showed deputies and medical staff repeatedly ignoring her pleas for help.

The case also led to criminal charges against a nurse and a doctor responsible for Serna’s treatment. Nurse Danalee Pascua was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, while the case against physician Friederike von Lintag ended in a hung jury. The District Attorney’s Office later dismissed the charges against von Lintag.

San Diego County has faced criticism for its high jail mortality rate, and this settlement adds to the mounting costs of jury awards and settlements. The Sheriff’s Department will now undergo policy changes and training to ensure better treatment of inmates.

The settlement brings some closure to the Serna family, who hope that the policy changes will pave the way for more compassionate treatment of all individuals in custody. The federal judge overseeing the case will monitor the Sheriff’s Department’s compliance with the agreement for the next year.