Family of inmate whose death led to charges against jail workers to settle lawsuit against Muskegon County
Updated May 10, 2021;
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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – The family of an inmate whose death at the Muskegon County Jail led to manslaughter charges against four deputies and a nurse has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the county, court records show.
The family of Paul Bulthouse, 39, contended that authorities covered up the circumstances of his April 4, 2019, death.
Muskegon County Board of Commissioners has not been presented with a proposed settlement, County Administrator Mark Eisenbarth said.
Commissioners would have to review and approve any settlement.
“We know that the defendants were in the position to observe both on camera and in person, Mr. Bluthouse s seizures. And yet, they simply failed to assist him or care for him,” she said.
The five individuals were arranged in the 60th District Court in Muskegon before Judge Harold Closz and released on personal bond. The probable cause conference is scheduled for April 15th. The preliminary examination is on April 22nd.
The staff members have been temporarily reassigned from direct inmate supervision until court proceedings can be conducted, according to the Muskegon County Jail.
Sheriff Michael Poulin said after the incident, the Michigan Sheriff’s Association Mission Team conducted an independent investigation and concluded the staff acted appropriately in providing care and the performance of cell checks.”
After AG charges 5 in inmate’s death, attorney questions Muskegon County’s earlier investigation
Updated 12:58 PM;
Today 11:08 AM
An attorney for the family of a Muskegon County Jail inmate who died in 2019 is questioning why earlier investigations found no fault. On Thursday, the Attorney General s office filed charges in the case. (MLive file photo)MLive.com
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MUSKEGON, MI After four Muskegon County jail staff were charged this week with involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 death of inmate Paul Bulthouse, his family’s attorney questions why earlier investigations found no fault.
The attorney told MLive on Thursday, after the attorney general field charges, that he doesn’t understand how previous investigations, including one by the Muskegon County Sheriff’s office, found no wrongdoing by jail staff.
Death of Muskegon jail inmate caused by ‘gross neglect’ by staff, attorney general says
Updated 12:12 PM;
Today 12:04 PM
Paul Bulthouse, 39, died in the Muskegon County Jail, shown in this file photo, after suffering 22 visible seizures across five and a half hours, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a video Friday. (MLive file photo)MLive.com
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MUSKEGON, MI – The man who died in the Muskegon County Jail died because of “gross neglect” from the people who were supposed to be checking on him every 15 minutes.
Paul Bulthouse, 39, died after suffering 22 visible seizures across five and a half hours, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a video released Friday, April 9.
Charges filed against 5 people in death of Muskegon County Jail inmate
Updated Apr 08, 2021;
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Charges were filed against five people in the death of a Muskegon County Jail inmate.
Jeffery Patterson, Crystal Greve, Jamal Lane, David Vanderlaan and Aubrey Schotts were each arraigned on a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, April 8 in Muskegon County District Court, records show.
Four of those charged are jail staff members and one is an employee of Wellpath, the corporation under contract with the county to provide healthcare services.
The charges stem from the death of Paul Bulthouse, 39, on April 4, 2019, the Muskegon County Sheriff Michael Poulin said in a news release.