A lawsuit filed against Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and jail officials regarding an inmate’s death in 2022 has been settled for $150,000, according to the sheriff’s office.
The family of Scott “Scotty” Leslie Whitley III filed the suit against the sheriff and jail personnel last year. According to the suit, Whitley’s parents said they endured “loss of companionship, instruction, and guidance; and mental pain and suffering from the date of injury and continuing for the remainder of their lives.”
The family’s lawyers were James M. Slater of Slater Legal PLLC and Michael E. Levine of Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain in Miami. Slater consulted with the family and said they have no comment on the settlement.
In a previous statement to the Star-Banner, provided at the time the lawsuit was filed, Slater said: “For the brief period Scotty was detained at the jail, he was repeatedly punished and attacked by deputies for displaying his mental illness. He was left naked and alone in confinement, where he was killed by deputies despite complying with their commands and remaining seated in his cell. Without any mental health intervention, the deputies stormed Scotty’s cell and attacked him, killing him. In a humane and civilized society, we cannot accept what happened to Scotty as normal institutional practice. We demand justice for Scotty’s family and systemic reform at the jail.”