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Jefferson County to pay $2.5M settlement after inmate Jennifer Lobato dies

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GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) — An attorney says family members of a woman who died at the Jefferson County jail while awaiting medical treatment have settled their lawsuit against the county.

David Lane tells The Denver Postthe family of 38-year-old Jennifer Lobato will receive $2.5 million from the county. Lobato, who was arrested for shoplifting, died March 2 of opiate withdrawal.

The lawsuit says seven deputies ignored signs of her illness for 12 hours until her death. She stopped breathing before she could be seen by a medical professional.

According to an internal investigation, a deputy who saw Lobato vomiting said something to the effect of "that's why you shouldn't do drugs." Six deputies were formally reprimanded.

Sheriff Jeff Shrader said then that policies have been changed since the death, including faster medical response time.

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