Sioux Center, Iowa — A Sioux Center woman, Sioux County, and Sioux County Jailers and Correctional Officers have come to a settlement in a case in which the woman sued for injuries she sustained in a failed suicide attempt after telling them she had had suicidal thoughts.
According to court records, Kamie Jo Schiebout says that she was incarcerated at the Sioux County Jail on November 21, 2017. She says in response to a medical questionnaire, she told officials that she, among other things, had previously been prescribed anti-depression medication and had previously experienced suicidal thoughts. She says she also told jail staff that she wanted a counselor for a mental health evaluation.
The suit claims jail staff failed to act and instead contacted third parties Compass Pointe Behavioral Health and Creative Living about Schiebout’s requests.
The suit says that on December 5th, 2017, Schiebout attempted to take her own life by hanging herself with a bedsheet. She survived but sustained a broken leg, a fractured toe, and a fractured kneecap.
The suit does not specify damages but asks for “full and fair compensation” and requests a jury trial. It was filed in Sioux County District Court but was transferred to the federal court system.
According to Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle, Sioux County has now approved a negotiated settlement with Schiebout in the amount of $50,000. He says further details will not be released until the case is officially dismissed.
Just for clarification, this is the second recent case in which Sioux County settled for $50,000. The previous case also involved a jail suicide attempt, however, that attempt was successful and the $50,000 was awarded to the estate of Dustin Herbst. Click here for that story.
