Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster, 51, was held at the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island in New York City. His older brother, Wendell Pittman, said he misses seeing him at family get-togethers, laughing with him, and encouraging him. His family says that on December 30, 2017, he repeatedly asked to be taken to the facility's medical clinic and waited nearly an hour before being moved, and that he was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he died five days later. The city's Medical Examiner said he died of a pontine hemorrhage, a large bleed on the brain, while his family and their lawyer, Josh Kelner, argued that proper medical care would have saved him. New York City agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle the family's lawsuit, and a city spokesperson said any death in custody is a tragedy.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death a large brain bleed, while his family and their lawyer Josh Kelner say he repeatedly asked to be taken to the clinic, waited nearly an hour, and that proper medical care would have saved him.
Reported by: New York City Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); family and their lawyer Josh Kelner (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued New York City over his death and the city agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle the case.