Whenever a family loses a loved one it is tragic. When a family loses a loved one due to the negligence of another person or entity it is even worse. While nothing can be done to bring that person back, a successful wrongful death lawsuit may provide financial compensation that will make it easier for those left behind to move forward with their lives.

The wife of a man who was incarcerated in a Pennsylvania prison is dealing with that situation now after the estate of her dead husband recently reached a settlement with the U.S. Government in a wrongful death lawsuit. The amount settled on is $750,000.

The 63-year-old man died while in a central Pennsylvania federal detention center. He was there after being incarcerated for tax evasion. He was about six months into a 15 month prison sentence when he fell ill complaining of, among other things, aches and a cough. He received an antibiotic after being diagnosed with acute bronchitis and was sent back to his cell. He was found unresponsive a couple hours later at which point he was taken to a hospital. The man died the following day.

An autopsy indicated he died as a result of acute and organizing bronchopneumonia. In addition, hypertensive cardiovascular disease was named as a factor contributing to his death.

The lawsuit, filed in March 2010, alleged that the medical providers at the prison did not conduct a comprehensive exam of the man. It also asserted proper tests had not been performed in failing to diagnose the man's pneumonia. These failures reportedly led to the man's death.

Because a lawsuit such as this is often complex and can be painful, it is important for those seeking to file one to work with an experienced attorney.

Source: The Pennsylvania Record, "Family of deceased federal prison inmate awarded $750,000 in wrongful death claim," Jon Campisi, Oct. 25, 2011