Family of Sandra Bland settles wrongful death suit for $1.9M

The settlement includes a provision that the Waller County Jail have a 24-hour nurse or emergency medical technician on duty

September 15, 2016 10:51 AM

In this July 10, 2015, file frame taken from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia confronts Sandra Bland after a minor traffic infraction in Waller County,Texas.

Associated Press

HOUSTON — A lawyer for the family of Sandra Bland, a black Chicago-area woman who died in a Texas jail after a contentious traffic stop last summer, says a $1.9 million settlement has been reached in the family’s wrongful death lawsuit.

Attorney Cannon Lambert tells Houston television station KTRK the settlement includes a provision that the Waller County Jail have a 24-hour nurse or emergency medical technician on duty.

Authorities have said Bland killed herself three days after she was arrested by a state trooper for a minor traffic offense. Bland’s family later sued the county and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

County officials, the sheriff’s office and their lawyer didn’t immediately return messages Thursday from The Associated Press. Bland’s sister also didn’t immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

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