COLDWATER, MI (WTVB)- A federal judge in Grand Rapids has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the family of an inmate who died from a drug overdose in 2017, which alleged prison officials ignored rampant drug smuggling at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater.
Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou dismissed the lawsuit filed in 2019 by the family of Seth Zakora who died from a fentanyl overdose at Lakeland on Jan. 22, 2017.
His family sued the prison and Michigan State Police officials, alleging they knew drug smuggling was rampant at the prison but failed to properly investigate or were even involved in the smuggling. MSP officials were later dismissed from the case .
U.S. District Judge Janet Neff had dismissed the entire lawsuit in 2021 after determining that Zakora’s family had failed to demonstrate any plausible constitutional violations.
But in 2022, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings.
According to evidence presented in the case, there were two other drug overdoses in Zakora’s unit just prior to his death.
Jarbou ruled that Zakora’s family failed to produce sufficient evidence to hold MDOC officials responsible.
In a statement, Jenni Riehle, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said the department appreciates “the judge’s attention to reviewing the facts,” and “making the appropriate finding based on the merits of the case.” The MDOC “remains committed to stopping the introduction of contraband to our facilities and maintaining the safety and security of all individuals under our supervision,” .
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