On June 11, 2014, plaintiff’s decedent Steven Neuroth, 55, was arrested by police officers from the city of Willits and taken to Mendocino County Jail, in Ukiah. Upon arriving at the sobering cell door, Neuroth became agitated and had to be restrained by corrections deputies. He subsequently died. The official Mendocino County coroner’s report stated that Neuroth died from methamphetamine toxicity associated with a violent struggle. It also noted that, “any contributory role of restraint asphyxia (was) unascertainable.” The Mendocino County Jail ended its contract with the company that provided medical services at the jail, California Forensic Medical Group Inc., following Neuroth’s death. The decedent’s brother, James Neuroth, acting individually and as the decedent’s successor in interest, sued Mendocino County, the city of Willits, California Forensic Medical Group Inc., and Correctional Medical Group Cos. Inc. He also sued the Mendocino County sheriff-coroner, Thomas Allman; the Mendocino County corrections captain, Tim Pearce; Mendocino County Sergeant Lori Knapp; Mendocino County Deputies Frank Masterson, Craig Bernardi, Michael Grant, Jeanette Holum, Robert Page and Christine De Los Santos; Willits Police Chief Gerardo Gonzalez; Willits Police Officers Kevin Leef and Jeff Andrade; the founders of California Forensic Medical Group, Dr. Taylor Fithian and Elaine Hustedt, a registered nurse; and two employees of California Forensic Medical Group, Jennifer Caudillo, a licensed vocational nurse, and Claire Teske, a registered nurse. The decedent’s brother alleged that the actions of the deputies and officers constituted excessive force in violation of the decedent’s civil rights and that the medical staff’s actions constituted deliberate indifference to the decedent’s serious medical needs. He also alleged that the county, sheriff, corrections captain and sergeant were liable for the deputies’ actions and that the city and police chief were liable for the Willits police officers’ actions. He further alleged that California Forensic Medical Group and Correctional Medical Group were liable for the medical staff’s actions. The District Court judge granted a motion for summary adjudication filed on behalf of Fithian, Hustedt, Teske and Correctional Medical Group Companies. The matter continued against the remaining defendants. Plaintiff’s counsel contended that Steven Neuroth was a schizophrenic in psychiatric crisis and that Neuroth should have been taken to a hospital instead of the jail. Counsel asserted that California Forensic Medical Group allowed Caudillo, a licensed vocational nurse, to medically clear Neuroth for entry into the jail, which was outside Caudillo’s legal scope of practice. Plaintiff’s counsel also contended that a Willits police officer tormented Neuroth by yelling “snakes” at him on the way to jail and laughing at Neuroth’s terrified reaction. Counsel asserted that the officer’s actions caused Neuroth to become agitated, which resulted in the deputies needing to restrain Neuroth. Plaintiff’s counsel asserted that Neuroth died from compression asphyxia as a result of the deputies restraining him. Counsel contended that the deputies held Neuroth face down with his hands cuffed and ankles shackled and that the deputies put their combined weight onto Neuroth’s back while repeatedly punching him and ignoring his pleas for help. Counsel also contended that Caudillo watched the incident and never intervened. In addition, counsel contended that Caudillo did not check on Neuroth while he was restrained until several minutes later, after he had died. The city’s counsel contended that the city’s officers followed the law in arresting Neuroth and taking him to jail. The county and its employees contended that Steven Neuroth was cooperative and under control until he arrived at the sobering cell door. Their counsel contended that Neuroth then became paranoid, extremely agitated and had to be restrained by several corrections deputies in order to be placed into a safety cell to prevent him from harming himself or others. Counsel also asserted that the force used by the deputies was not excessive and that, rather, the force used was only the amount necessary to control Neuroth in order to prevent him from harming himself or others. Counsel further asserted that an independent forensic pathologist determined that Neuroth died from methamphetamine toxicity associated with a violent struggle and that Neuroth did not die from asphyxia. California Forensic Medical Group’s counsel asserted that it was appropriate to have Caudillo working alone in the jail and that Caudillo acted properly at all times. Counsel for all defendants asserted that Neuroth died from methamphetamine toxicity., Steven Neuroth was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The decedent’s brother claimed that Neuroth died from compression asphyxia as a result of the deputies restraining him. Neuroth was 55 years old. He is survived by his younger brother. Neuroth’s brother sought recovery of wrongful death damages for the loss of Neuroth. He also sought recovery of noneconomic damages for Neuroth’s conscious pain and suffering before his death. Defense counsel disputed the plaintiffs’ assertion regarding Neuroth’s cause of death. Counsel instead asserted that Neuroth died from methamphetamine toxicity associated with a violent struggle and that Neuroth did not die from asphyxia.