Orange County to pay $480,000 over delayed treatment of pregnant inmate who miscarried

The Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
The Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
(Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Instances)

Sandra Quinones was pregnant and in Orange County jail for a probation violation when her water broke.

Deputies took two hours to answer the homeless girl’s name for assist, then stopped at Starbucks on the best way to the hospital; Quinones, 28, misplaced the being pregnant.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pay Quinones, now 34, $480,000 to settle a federal lawsuit over delayed medical remedy in the course of the March 2016 emergency. Deputies determined in opposition to calling an ambulance, then “acted with additional deliberate indifference” to her medical wants after they stopped for Starbucks as a substitute of taking Quinones on to the hospital, her lawsuit stated.

Quinones legal professional, Richard Herman, stated his shopper was “dysfunctional” and homeless and had psychological well being points however persevered in her case. “She understands that she was wronged,” Herman stated.

Her swimsuit was dismissed in federal court docket in October 2020 however reinstated by the ninth U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals the next yr.

“She doggedly pursued this case, together with all of its ups and downs,” Herman stated. “This was a protracted, exhausting battle. We’re glad that this reached a profitable conclusion.”

County officers confirmed the settlement quantity and supplied court docket paperwork, however declined to touch upon the case. Sgt. Scott Steinle, an Orange County Sheriff’s Division spokesperson, stated the regulation enforcement company had no remark.

Herman was not capable of say on Wednesday what number of months pregnant his shopper was, however confirmed that she suffered a miscarriage. Her situation was not an excuse for jail employees to deal with her as they did, he added.

“The Orange County jail is able to sinking to the bottom depths,” Herman instructed The Instances Wednesday. “Sadly this isn't the one event.”

The lawsuit famous that Quinones “spent important time” in jail after her miscarriage, however Herman stated she is at the moment out of custody and residing together with her mom.

Zachary Schwartz, an legal professional representing the county, couldn't be reached for remark.

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