October 10, 2024 | Wrongful death

A woman from Illinois, Danielle Harbison, died of acute alcohol toxicity while being held in a Sarpy County jail cell.  In a case involving 4 years of litigation, the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners delivered a unanimous vote that approved the $800,000 settlement.

Frank Younes, a partner at the law firm High & Younes LLC Attorneys, stated; “the family was very pleased with the outcome of the settlement.”  Both the family and the county were prepared to go to trial, but ultimately a resolution was reached and the settlement agreed upon.

In 2020, a federal lawsuit was filed by the father of Ms. Harbison’s children.  The original lawsuit encompassed every person and entity involved in the arrest and detainment of Ms. Harbison, but that was eventually reduced to only include Sarpy County,

The tragic tale began to unfold the evening of June 23, 2018, when Belleview Police responded to a 911 call.  Ms. Harbison was found in her truck, slumped over the steering wheel passed out.  The truck was still in gear but not moving.

A breathalyzer test was administered to Ms. Harbison where she blew a 0.34%, which is more than 4 times the legal limit to drive.  She was immediately arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and taken to the Sarpy County jail.

While in jail, a series of bad decisions, poor judgment, callous behavior and miscommunication all contributed to Ms. Harbison’s death.

There is a more detailed account of the incident at this OWH link – $800,000 settlement

Although an $800,000 settlement will never bring their mother back, at least it will provide some financial assistance to the children of Ms. Harbison.  After traditional fees, the remainder of the settlement will be evenly divided between her two children and placed in a trust account on their behalf.  The siblings will have access to the funds when they turn 18 years old.

$800,000 Settlement Awarded to Family