RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A ruling from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $1.5 million verdict awarded to the family of a man who died after interactions with sheriff’s deputies. The court determined that while there was no violation of the Fourth Amendment, the deputies showed negligence by failing to provide necessary medical assistance after restraining the individual.
The case involves the death of Kevin Niedzialek, who became unresponsive following a confrontation with Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies in July 2019. Deputies Brian Keeney and Sonia Gomez responded to reports of Niedzialek, who was exhibiting erratic behavior. After utilizing a Taser on him, the officers restrained him on his stomach, with one deputy applying pressure to his back despite Niedzialek’s pleas for help.
The jury found no excessive use of force but did rule that the deputies acted negligently when they neglected to check on Niedzialek’s well-being while he was in their custody. The court’s written opinion, authored by Circuit Judge Gabriel P. Sanchez, clarified that there could be a distinction between reasonable force and negligence under California law.
Earlier precedents, including a 2013 California Supreme Court case, indicate that officers’ actions prior to an incident involving force can be grounds for establishing a negligence claim. The court emphasized that law enforcement’s approach to a situation should not only hinge on their tactical decisions when force is applied but also on how they respond thereafter.
During the encounter, when deputies found Niedzialek, he was reportedly having a mental health crisis and bleeding from his head. Witnesses described him as acting violently, which prompted the call for police assistance. After being restrained, Niedzialek continued to struggle, but deputies did not administer medical aid until paramedics arrived, over two minutes later. He was pronounced dead the following day, with the coroner attributing his death largely to methamphetamine intoxication.
Tracy Alves, Niedzialek’s sister, originally filed a lawsuit against the deputies and the county, claiming both excessive force and negligence. While the jury sided with the deputies on the excessive force claim, it determined that their failure to provide adequate medical care constituted negligence, leading to significant financial compensation for Alves.
District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal later reduced the jury’s initial award from $7.5 million to $1.5 million to reflect contributory negligence on Niedzialek’s part. The appellate panel affirmed this conclusion, reflecting the complexity of police accountability in such incidents.
This marked case is underscored by broader discussions about law enforcement protocol in mental health crises and the ongoing scrutiny of how officers engage with individuals in distress. The judgment serves as a reminder of the critical balance between ensuring public safety and adhering to standards of care for individuals in police custody.
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