Family Files Suit Over Death Following Arrest
The family of a black man who died while in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after failing to receive routine treatment for a kidney ailment has filed a $5-million civil rights suit.
Houston McClenton died of kidney failure four days after his arrest on a traffic warrant because his repeated requests for dialysis treatments were denied, according to the suit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court.
McClenton’s wife, Barbara, and his 13-year-old son accuse sheriff’s officials of “unlawful and malicious acts” that deliberately deprived McClenton of his civil rights after his arrest Jan. 27, 1989.
McClenton was on disability at the time and required dialysis treatments three times a week, the suit said.
Morris Thomas, an attorney for the McClentons, said the man was visibly “in bad condition” when he was arrested.
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