ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — Arapahoe County this week agreed to pay $2.45 million to the family of a 37-year-old man who died in a pool of blood and vomit in his cell at the county jail nearly five years ago.
It’s the largest settlement of its kind by the south metro county in at least a decade, Luc Hatlestad, a county spokesman, said.
Jeffrey Lillis’ family sued the county in 2016, claiming Lillis was repeatedly ignored and neglected inside the Arapahoe County Detention Facility as his health rapidly deteriorated and he coughed up blood and experienced nausea and diarrhea.
On Dec. 14, 2014, after asking for help for several days, Lillis died in his cell from what was later determined to be sepsis caused by bacterial pneumonia — “an entirely treatable infection,” according to his family’s lawsuit.
The Arapahoe County commissioners approved the settlement on Tuesday and most of the money paid to the family will be covered by insurance, Hatlestad said.
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