Settlement of Jail Lawsuit Given Okay by Maricopa County

Maricopa County officials have agreed to pay $240,000 to settle a lawsuit that alleges a mentally ill jail inmate died from stress he suffered when he mistakenly viewed officers’ efforts to forcibly clothe him in a jail uniform as a rape attempt.
The unanimous vote Wednesday by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors resolves the lawsuit by the estate of Eric Vogel, whose family lost a jury trial but later succeeded in getting the verdict thrown out. County officials, who met behind closed doors days earlier to discuss the case, approved the settlement without making any public comments.