Phoenix Family Files Lawsuit After Death Linked to Heat Exposure

Phoenix – On an incredibly hot day in Phoenix, reaching 116 degrees, a family is taking legal action after a year has passed since their loved one died due to fever exposure and dehydration. This tragic case involves Maricopa County.

Local news outlet Fox 10 has been gathering information about this situation since last summer.

Background:

Lafayette Palmus, 58, had mental health challenges and was under county guardianship. His family filed a lawsuit last week, seeking accountability for the circumstances surrounding his death.

“We’re his voice. He had no voice,” stated Lakana Glover, Lafayette’s niece.

The family remembered Palmus as bright, caring, and devoted to family.

“We were like siblings since my grandma raised me. I remember who he was before his diagnosis. He was sharp and had great potential,” Glover recalled.

Palmus battled mental health issues since childhood and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his 40s. His family shared he was responsible for taking care of his mother until his passing in 2020.

Afterwards, his sister brought him to Arizona from out of state but struggled with his care.

Details:

Court records indicate that he ended up under permanent guardianship. Maricopa County Public Trustees had mandated that he receive around-the-clock care “to ensure his safety and compliance with treatment.”

Brina Davis, Palmus’ cousin, discovered his situation and attempted to take action. “When I found out he was in Arizona, I reached out to find out how I could bring him home,” she said.

Sadly, before any reunion could happen, the family received heartbreaking news.

“Lafayette has passed away,” they were told, with no details provided.

The family has initiated lawsuits against multiple parties, including Chandler Assisted Living Facilities, where Palmus had been residing. According to the lawsuit, he was moved there recently after the previous facility failed to administer his schizophrenia medication.

Timeline:

Resilient Health, the organization responsible for Palmus’ Behavioral Health care team, had contacted the county to ensure care at their clinic.

The lawsuit alleges that the transport company hired to collect Palmus did not fulfill their duty, and he missed an appointment.

According to the clinic, he never arrived on July 3rd.

The following day, the care facility informed the county that Palmus would not be returning, but that message wasn’t seen until July 8th. On July 9th, Chandler police received a call reporting him missing.

However, he had already been located by Phoenix police on July 6th. The medical examiner determined his cause of death as “dehydration” and “heat exposure,” noting that the pavement temperature was 157 degrees while the air temperature hovered around 110 degrees.

“His face was burnt on the asphalt. His whole body was burnt. I can’t even imagine how long he was out there. It’s just heartbreaking,” Davis reflected.

The contact numbers for the owner of Chandler Assisted Living Facilities are reportedly disconnected.

What’s next:

Palmus’ family is pushing for a trial to seek justice, expressing disbelief at how their loved one could have been left alone to suffer in such conditions.

Maricopa County officials have yet to comment on the lawsuit. Fox 10 has reached out to Resilient Health and is awaiting a response.