County urged to make $1.8 million prisoner settlement

The Los Angeles County Claims Board recommended Monday the county pay $1.8 million to settle three lawsuits alleging poor medical care and false imprisonment in county jails.Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

The board recommended a $900,000 settlement for Franklin G. Silva, who alleged that negligent medical care he received in jail resulted in the amputation of his right foot, Senior Deputy County Counsel Narbeh Bagdasarian wrote in board documents.

After Silva was jailed in March 2005, Bagdasarian wrote, the culture of a lesion on his foot indicated an infection. Although Silva was transferred to the hospital, the infection spread and his foot had to be amputated.

The board also recommended a $395,000 settlement for the family of Michael Buford, who died while in custudy in 2005.