Suit over death of inmate at jail to proceed

A lawsuit filed by a family of an inmate who died in the Sonoma County Jail while suffering from the effects of sickle-cell will proceed after a ruling by a federal magistrate.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Ryan George died at the jail in Santa Rosa in July 2007 after losing 44 pounds during the last week of his life.

His death came six days after he was discharged from a hospital where inmates are treated.

George’s family filed suit claiming that jail personnel had ignored his medical needs.

But county officials say medical professionals and guards monitored his condition, but could not require him to take food or medication.

In issuing her ruling Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Laporte said some of the facts about the care provided George are in dispute.

The case is scheduled to go to trial in January.