SEAN LEVERT'S WIDOW GETS $4 MILLION FOR HIS DEATH

[JumpinJack AJ]

Sean Levert's Widow Gets $4 Million for His Death
By Ruth Manuel-Logan on Jun 18th 2010 8:25AM

Angela Lowe, the widow of R&B singer Sean Levert, who died suspiciously six days after being jailed back in March 2008, has settled her lawsuit against Cuyahoga County in Ohio and the umbrella company that oversees medical care at the jail.

The settlement, which was reached yesterday, is one of the largest in the state's history.

According to Lowe's attorney David Malik, the court documents do not contain admission of liability, but it was agreed overall that Levert's death was an unexpected tragedy.

Levert, who was 39 at the time of death, was arrested for back child support payments in excess of $90,000. He had three children from former relationships. The former member of the 1980's R&B group LeVert was not allowed to take his prescribed anti-anxiety medication, Xanax, during the entire time he was jailed.

A coroner's report revealed that the singer's death was a direct result of withdrawals from not being able to take the drug. Levert began to hallucinate in jail and had trouble breathing after guards shackled him to a restraint chair.


Medical negligence and absurd jail policies contributed to Levert's death. There was no provision in place for inmates to get their prescribed medications upon arrival, which meant that many had to go without them for long periods.

A year after Levert's untimely death, the jail adopted a policy stating that inmates taking anti-anxiety drugs should be given those meds once their prescriptions are verified. If the prescription can't be verified, the inmate should be scheduled to see a psychiatrist that day or the next.

"Sean's Law," named after Levert and sponsored in the Ohio General Assembly by State Rep. Barbara Boyd, mandates that every county jail give each inmate a thorough medical, dental and mental-health exam upon arrival.

Sean's father is lead O'Jays vocalist Eddie Levert.