TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Shawnee County commission agreed to pay $150,000 to the survivors of an inmate who died while in the county prison.
The commission voted Monday night to pay the settlement to the family of 34-year-old John Bradley Rippee, who died in November 2009 at the jail.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the family alleged in its lawsuit that Rippee was given several of his medications without proper clearance before he overdosed on the medicine. The family also alleged the jail did not provide proper medical attention that would have saved Rippee’s life.
County counselor Rich Eckert says Rippe died of cardiac arrest. He said the county might have prevailed but fighting the lawsuit would have been too costly.
