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| Sandra Bland's family settles wrongful death lawsuit against Texas for $1.9m | Sandra Bland's family settles wrongful death lawsuit against Texas for $1.9m |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The attorney for Sandra Bland’s mother has said that a $1.9m settlement has been reached in the family’s lawsuit against Texas authorities. | The attorney for Sandra Bland’s mother has said that a $1.9m settlement has been reached in the family’s lawsuit against Texas authorities. |
| Cannon Lambert told CBS News that there is an agreement with the Texas department of public safety and Waller County to bring an end to the federal civil rights action, which had been scheduled for trial in January. | Cannon Lambert told CBS News that there is an agreement with the Texas department of public safety and Waller County to bring an end to the federal civil rights action, which had been scheduled for trial in January. |
| However, an attorney for Waller County said the settlement agreement was still only provisional. | |
| “A potential settlement agreement has been reached, but is not yet final,” Larry J Simmons said. “The parties are still working through a few details. In addition, the potential settlement must be approved by the Waller County commissioner’s court, which has not yet occurred.” | |
| Bland died in the Waller County jail in July last year, three days after being arrested on suspicion of assault after a state trooped pulled her over for failing to signal a lane change. Their exchange escalated into a verbal and physical conflict, and trooper Brian Encinia forced her out of her car and threatened to tase her. On a video of the stop, she is heard screaming in pain. | Bland died in the Waller County jail in July last year, three days after being arrested on suspicion of assault after a state trooped pulled her over for failing to signal a lane change. Their exchange escalated into a verbal and physical conflict, and trooper Brian Encinia forced her out of her car and threatened to tase her. On a video of the stop, she is heard screaming in pain. |
| Bland had just moved from the Chicago area to the county near Houston to start a job at Prairie View A&M University, her alma mater. The 28-year-old African American woman was found dead in her cell in a rural county with a long history of racism. | Bland had just moved from the Chicago area to the county near Houston to start a job at Prairie View A&M University, her alma mater. The 28-year-old African American woman was found dead in her cell in a rural county with a long history of racism. |
| Her family questioned the official account that she had hanged herself, prompting intense national scrutiny on the circumstances of her arrest and death, and a raft of conspiracy theories. Activists continue to mount vigils and protests against her treatment, while the road where she was stopped has been formally renamed Sandra Bland Parkway. | Her family questioned the official account that she had hanged herself, prompting intense national scrutiny on the circumstances of her arrest and death, and a raft of conspiracy theories. Activists continue to mount vigils and protests against her treatment, while the road where she was stopped has been formally renamed Sandra Bland Parkway. |
| An autopsy concluded that she hanged herself using a plastic trash bag. Jail intake questionnaires gave conflicting details as to Bland’s likely mental health in the hours after her arrest. | An autopsy concluded that she hanged herself using a plastic trash bag. Jail intake questionnaires gave conflicting details as to Bland’s likely mental health in the hours after her arrest. |
| The Texas Commission on Jail Standards cited the jail three days after her death for failing to conduct face-to-face observation of all inmates at least once an hour, and for inadequate training on how to handle potentially suicidal inmates. | The Texas Commission on Jail Standards cited the jail three days after her death for failing to conduct face-to-face observation of all inmates at least once an hour, and for inadequate training on how to handle potentially suicidal inmates. |
| The incident spurred Texas lawmakers to examine jail standards and possible criminal justice reforms. | The incident spurred Texas lawmakers to examine jail standards and possible criminal justice reforms. |
| The Waller County sheriff, Glenn Smith, commissioned a panel to examine his department’s performance. Last April it produced a report calling for a new jail, improved procedures and greater respect to be shown towards suspects. | The Waller County sheriff, Glenn Smith, commissioned a panel to examine his department’s performance. Last April it produced a report calling for a new jail, improved procedures and greater respect to be shown towards suspects. |
| Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, filed the wrongful death lawsuit in August last year. It alleged that jailers failed to respond properly when Bland showed signs of distress and that she was placed alone in a cell “with a variety of inappropriate items … including a large garbage can, garbage bags, exposed beams, cords and other items”. Attorneys for Waller County argued that Bland killed herself because she became upset when no one posted bail for her. | Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, filed the wrongful death lawsuit in August last year. It alleged that jailers failed to respond properly when Bland showed signs of distress and that she was placed alone in a cell “with a variety of inappropriate items … including a large garbage can, garbage bags, exposed beams, cords and other items”. Attorneys for Waller County argued that Bland killed herself because she became upset when no one posted bail for her. |
| In court earlier this year, attorneys for Bland and for the defendants clashed over access to evidence, with Bland’s lawyers seeking access to a detailed report produced by the Texas Rangers, which has not been made public. A judge ordered the parties into mediation in July. | In court earlier this year, attorneys for Bland and for the defendants clashed over access to evidence, with Bland’s lawyers seeking access to a detailed report produced by the Texas Rangers, which has not been made public. A judge ordered the parties into mediation in July. |
| According to ABC13 local news, the Texas department of public safety (DPS) will pay $100,000 of the settlement, and Waller County the rest, while the jail will agree to provide emergency nurses for all shifts, use electronic sensors to improve the cell-checking process and seek state funds for other improvements. | According to ABC13 local news, the Texas department of public safety (DPS) will pay $100,000 of the settlement, and Waller County the rest, while the jail will agree to provide emergency nurses for all shifts, use electronic sensors to improve the cell-checking process and seek state funds for other improvements. |
| Simmons added that the Waller County defendants “vigorously deny any fault or wrongdoing, and the potential settlement does not involve any such admissions”. | |
| Lambert, the Texas DPS and did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Encinia was fired by the DPS and is awaiting trial on a misdemeanour perjury charge related to a document he submitted to justify the traffic stop. He pleaded not guilty. No one was indicted on criminal charges related to Bland’s death. |