SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Corrections agreed to pay a record $2.75 million to the family of a man who died from the flu at the Oregon State Penitentiary and has apologized for the man’s death.
The settlement comes nine months after Michael Barton’s family filed a $15 million wrongful death lawsuit accusing prison staff of failing to treat the 54-year-old man for the flu and then covering up his flu-related death.
Corrections Director Colette Peters last week publicly apologized to Barton’s family, the Statesman Journal reported.
“The death of any adult in DOC custody is tragic,” Peters said. “But the death of Mr. Barton was also needless and preventable … This should never have happened to any adult in our custody, and for that, we sincerely apologize.”
Bryan Dawson, lawyer for Barton’s family, said the family hopes the case prevents other prisoners from suffering the way Barton did.
