Rosemary Summers
Rosemary Summers was a 16-year-old girl whom her family described as sassy and sensitive, a young woman trying to find herself, and she kept a journal describing her pain and confusion. She died by suicide by hanging in her room at the Kearny Mesa juvenile hall facility in San Diego in September 2013. Her family sued the County of San Diego, alleging overmedication, understaffing, and failure to follow suicide prevention policies. The county settled for $1 million without admitting guilt and has since made changes to juvenile facilities, including door, hinge and vent modifications and expanded mental health staffing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Her family's attorney, Gerald Singleton, says she hanged herself in her room, and their lawsuit says county staff overmedicated her, were understaffed, and did not follow suicide prevention policies; the county settled without admitting guilt.
Reported by: Gerald Singleton, the family's attorney, and their lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued the County of San Diego, which settled for $1 million without admitting guilt.