Court settlement reached in death of Hancock County jail inmate

1/9/2009

A lawsuit filed by the daughter of an inmate who died while in the custody of the Hancock County jail was settled, according to documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Toledo.

Details of the case filed by Tameka Shoemaker were not available as the settlement occurred out of court. According to the document signed by Judge David Katz, the parties agreed to the settlement and the defendants would pay the costs of litigation.

Lisa Waddell was found unresponsive in her cell April 25, 2006, and died in the early morning hours of April 26 in Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The former sheriff s deputy who was in charge of ensuring that inmates received proper medical attention was found guilty in August, 2007, of dereliction of duty, a second-degree misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Jeffrey T. Baney was fired in November, 2006.

The lawsuit was filed against Sheriff Michael Heldman, Dr. Leroy Schroeder, the medical director of the jail, as well as five employees of the jail, including Mr. Baney.

Attorney Paul Belazis, who represented Ms. Shoemaker, said that "the case has been concluded," but declined to offer further details.