San Diego County has agreed to pay nearly $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Elisa Serna, a 24-year-old pregnant woman who died in jail five years ago after collapsing in her cell while under observation by a sheriff’s deputy and a medical worker.
The settlement, reached on Friday after extensive negotiations, comes just before the case was scheduled to go to trial, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The agreement was confirmed by the judge overseeing the federal lawsuit.
Elisa’s mother, Paloma Serna, emphasized that while the monetary amount is significant, it does not diminish the loss of her daughter. “The dollar amount doesn’t matter,” she said, expressing her intention to continue advocating for the well-being of individuals in sheriff’s custody.
Under the terms of the settlement, San Diego County will pay $14 million, while the Coast Correctional Medical Group, responsible for providing medical services in the jail, will pay $1 million.
Elisa Serna, who was five weeks pregnant at the time, had been in jail for five days due to alcohol and drug withdrawals. She had informed jail staff of her recent heroin use before her arrest. When she collapsed, the responding nurse allegedly failed to check her vital signs promptly and left her unattended on the floor for about an hour before attempting unsuccessful resuscitation efforts with deputies.
The cause of her death, according to the medical examiner, was complications related to chronic substance abuse.
In addition to the financial settlement, the agreement mandates new training for deputies and medical staff within the sheriff’s department. It also includes provisions for judicial oversight of the department’s compliance with the agreement over the next year.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez, who was not in office at the time of Elisa Serna’s death, highlighted changes implemented since assuming her role last year. “There have been many changes and an incredible shift in priorities, approach, and processes in our jails since 2019,” Martinez stated. She reaffirmed her commitment to enhancing the safety of incarcerated individuals and staff within the county’s jail system.
