Paul E. Clifton
Paul E. Clifton, 59, of Urbana, was held at the Champaign County Jail in Illinois and collapsed there on Easter Sunday morning, March 27, 2016; he was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital. Jail officials and the Champaign County coroner said he died of natural causes, and the coroner said there was no reason to suspect foul play. His estate sued, arguing that the sheriff's office was slow to give him nebulizer treatments and did not start CPR, and that the jail's health care provider should have given better care; the defendants denied the allegations. The estate later settled, with the sheriff's office paying $35,000 without admitting liability.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The Champaign County coroner determined natural causes, while his estate's lawsuit says the sheriff's office was slow to give nebulizer treatments and did not start CPR, and that the jail's health care provider should have given better care; the defendants denied the allegations and the estate later settled for $35,000 without admission of liability.
Reported by: Champaign County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Champaign County Chief Deputy Allen Jones (the agency that held him); his estate's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate sued the Champaign County Sheriff's Office and its jail health care provider over his care, and the sheriff's office settled for $35,000 without admitting liability.