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SAN DIEGO聽性视界传媒� A federal judge has denied motions to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit against Imperial County, Naphcare Inc., and other defendants, allowing the case to move forward.

The lawsuit, filed by the family of Delbert Essex, alleges that officials and medical personnel failed to provide adequate medical care, leading to his death.

Essex, a Marine veteran and insulin-dependent diabetic with a seizure disorder, was arrested for driving under the influence on June 22, 2023, by a California Highway Patrol officer when he was found inebriated behind the wheel of his pick-up truck after driving into a man-made riverbed on June 22, 2023.

He was taken to the Imperial County Jail in El Centro, where jail nurse Rosemary Doherty evaluated him.

According to the lawsuit, Doherty noted that Essex was dehydrated, had a tachycardic heart rate, high respiration rate, high blood pressure, dangerously high blood sugar levels, and possibly suffered from kidney or liver disease and heart issues.

Despite these conditions, Doherty did not administer insulin or IV hydration. Instead, she ordered Essex to be transported to a medical center. However, rather than taking him to a hospital, two officers dropped him off at the Ocotillo Inn motel in El Centro, where he was later found dead due to complications from ketoacidosis shock and hypoglycemic shock. Motel staff discovered his body the next morning.

The lawsuit claims the officers, Imperial County, and Naphcare Inc.性视界传媒攖he private medical company contracted to provide healthcare at the jail性视界传媒攚ere deliberately indifferent to Essex性视界传媒檚 medical needs, violating his Fourteenth Amendment rights.

It also asserts that Imperial County and Naphcare failed to train jail personnel adequately, despite prior inmate deaths that should have alerted them to systemic deficiencies.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge M. James Lorenz ruled that the plaintiffs had sufficiently alleged that the defendants性视界传媒� inadequate training policies contributed to Essex性视界传媒檚 death.

Lorenz rejected Doherty性视界传媒檚 argument that she acted in Essex性视界传媒檚 best interests, ruling that her failure to administer insulin or insist on ambulance transport placed Essex in greater danger.

性视界传媒淗er decisions under these circumstances to not administer insulin and choose transport by squad car placed Mr. Essex in greater danger than he was in before his arrest, when he could use his own insulin medication,性视界传媒� Lorenz wrote. 性视界传媒淭his theory of endangering Mr. Essex性视界传媒檚 life and health is independent of the allegations that the officers subsequently abandoned Mr. Essex.性视界传媒�

The court also dismissed the county性视界传媒檚 argument that Essex was not entitled to medical care because he was never formally booked into the jail. Lorenz found this claim unconvincing, noting that Essex remained in county custody from the time of his arrest until he was left at the motel.

Additionally, the judge denied Naphcare and Doherty性视界传媒檚 request to dismiss the family性视界传媒檚 claim for punitive damages, ruling that allegations of reckless indifference and callous disregard for Essex性视界传媒檚 rights were sufficient to proceed.

The lawsuit also includes claims under California性视界传媒檚 Bane Act, which protects individuals from civil rights violations through coercion or intimidation. Lorenz ruled that the defendants' alleged deliberate indifference to Essex性视界传媒檚 medical needs could support an inference of reckless disregard, a necessary element for the claim.

According to California性视界传媒檚 Correctional Health Care Services, at least 15 people have died in custody in Imperial County since January 2024. Attorneys for Essex性视界传媒檚 family argue that systemic failures at the Imperial County Jail contributed to his death, while the defendants continue to deny wrongdoing. The case now moves toward discovery and potential trial proceedings.