Lyvita Gomes
Lyvita Gomes, 52, was a Mumbai native who had worked as a flight attendant and airline trainer, and about 200 people attended her memorial at a Chicago church. She was held at the Lake County jail in Illinois in December 2011, and her estate's federal lawsuit says she stopped eating and drinking for about 15 days. She was taken to a hospital on December 29, 2011, and died there on January 3, 2012. The lawsuit says jail medical staff, employed by Correct Care Solutions, ignored her worsening condition until she was taken to hospital, and a judge allowed claims against the medical defendants to proceed while dismissing those against the county. The county's attorney says none of its officials acted with deliberate indifference, and county officials said they did everything right.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). News reports say she died of starvation after a hunger strike, and her estate's federal lawsuit says jail medical staff employed by Correct Care Solutions ignored her worsening condition until she was taken to hospital, while the county's attorney denies any deliberate indifference.
Reported by: reporters; her estate and relatives, in a federal civil lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her estate sued in federal court over her care at the Lake County jail, alleging that medical staff employed by Correct Care Solutions ignored her worsening condition; a judge let the claims against the medical defendants proceed and dismissed those against the county, and no settlement or award is reported.