Scott Norberg
Scott Norberg, 35, died on June 1, 1996, while held at the Madison Street Jail in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Medical Examiner's Office said he died of positional asphyxia after detention officers put him in a metal restraint chair. Federal investigators affirmed that finding but cited a history of drug and alcohol abuse. His family's wrongful-death lawsuit was settled for $8.25 million in 1999, without an admission of wrongdoing by the county.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The Medical Examiner's Office ruled that officers' forcing him into a metal restraint chair led to positional asphyxia, and his family's wrongful-death suit, which settled in 1999 without an admission of wrongdoing, contests the official account.
Reported by: Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); federal investigators; his family's wrongful-death suit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued over his death and settled the wrongful-death suit for $8.25 million in 1999 without an admission of wrongdoing.