Smith v. Santa Cruz County

I. BACKGROUND

1 A. Factual Background 2 This case arises from the death of pre-trial detainee Tamario Smith (“Smith”) at the Santa 3 Cruz County jail. 4 While Plaintiffs brought this action against numerous defendants, the Court will only 5 address facts related to Defendant Lazar’s individual liability for the purposes of this Order. Lazar 6 was the Santa Cruz County jail’s only psychiatrist during Smith’s period in custody until his death 7 and a member of the Santa Cruz County jail Behavioral Health team. FAC ¶ 34. 8 Smith arrived in custody on January 30, 2020. Id. ¶ 31. On March 26, 2020, Smith was 9 found incompetent to stand trial due to his extreme psychosis. Id. ¶¶ 34–38, 40. The medical 10 reports related to his incompetency revealed that Smith suffered a severe level of psychosis due to 11 schizophrenia, heard voices in his head, could not participate in his own criminal defense, lacked 12 insight into his own condition, lacked the capacity to make well-reasoned medical decisions, and 13 needed to be closely monitored in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Id.; see also id. at 2–3. 14 However, Smith could not be transferred to an appropriate psychiatric…