Catalano Complaint
Catalano Complaint
Catalano Complaint
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Telephone: (602) 400-4400 ♦ Fax: (602) 265-0267
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Plaintiff,
14 (Wrongful Death)
vs.
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Jury Trial Demanded
16 State of Arizona, a governmental entity;
Centurion of Arizona, LLC, an Arizona Tier 3
17 limited liability corporation,
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Defendants.
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Plaintiff Carlos Catalano, for his Complaint, alleges:
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THE PARTIES
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1. Mackenzie Catalano, age 24, was an unmarried woman, who died on
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April 7, 2022, while in the custody of the State of Arizona, Department of
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Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry (hereafter, "ADC").
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2. Carlos Catalano is the surviving father of Mackenzie Catalano and
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brings this claim individually and as Mackenzie Catalano’s statutory beneficiary.
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3. Defendant State of Arizona is a governmental entity organized under
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the Constitution of the United States. Its subdivisions and/or agencies include the
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ADC.
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1 4. Defendant State of Arizona maintains a prison system through the operations
2 of the ADC for the custody and control of individuals, such as Mackenzie Catalano,
3 including the Arizona State Prison Complex – Perryville (“ASPC-PV” or “Perryville”).
4 5. Defendant State of Arizona has a non-delegable duty of care, custody, and
5 control over the inmates within its custody, including, but not limited to, the duty to provide
6 medical and mental health care for the serious medical and mental health needs of the
7 inmates.
8 6. Defendant State of Arizona is liable for the acts and omissions of its employees
9 within the scope of their employment and agency, including the Director, officers, and other
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
11 7. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 31-201.01(F), any and all causes of action which may
301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
12 arise out of tort caused by the Director, prison officers, or employees of ADC, run only
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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1 13. By virtue of their relationship, the State of Arizona remains liable for any
2 injuries caused by Centurion or its employees.
3 JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4 14. The events that form the basis of this action occurred in Maricopa County.
5 Venue is, therefore, properly with this Court.
6 15. The amount in controversy exceeds the minimum jurisdictional limits of this
7 Court.
8 FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL COUNTS
9 Centurion’s Responsibility to Provide Medical and Mental Health Care
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
10 16. At all times relevant to this Complaint, mental health services were
Telephone: (602) 400-4400 ♦ Fax: (602) 265-0267
11 provided by Centurion, including the provision of all mental health services for
301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
13 17. ADC policy required Centurion to identify the mental health needs of
14 patients by assigning a mental health service level to each patient.
15 18. ADC policy, and the applicable standard of care, required Centurion to
16 ensure that patients with elevated mental health needs had a written, identifiable,
17 and accessible individual treatment plan based on the individual clinical needs of
18 the patient.
19 19. ADC’s policies require each prison complex to identify patients who
20 engage in self-harm, identifying whether the self-harm was a suicide attempt or self-
21 injurious behavior.
22 20. ADC’s policies require that patients with verified serious suicide
23 attempts be identified with a higher mental health score so that their need for mental
24 health care can be met.
25 21. ADC’s policies and the applicable standard of care requires medical
26 staff to consider known medical and mental health history in treatment decisions
27 with the goal of continuity of care.
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1 22. In providing health care to inmates, Centurion staff have available an
2 electronic medical record system through which medical and mental health conditions and
3 events can be recorded and maintained to ensure continuity of medical and mental health
4 care.
5 23. In providing health care to inmates, Centurion staff often rely on the
6 observations and reports of security personnel in monitoring inmates with mental health and
7 medical concerns, particularly inmates who present with danger to self or others arising from
8 mental illness.
9 24. To the extent that Centurion staff rely on the observations and reports
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Mackenzie Catalano Enters the Arizona Prison System with Serious
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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1 30. Mackenzie was released to community supervision on or about August
2 1, 2017, to include a treatment program.
3 31. Mackenzie was released with active prescriptions for psychiatric
4 medications related to her mental health needs and with an elevated mental health
5 score.
6 32. On or about August 8, 2017, Mackenzie returned to prison to finish her
7 custodial sentence.
8 33. Mackenzie was ultimately released from custody and supervision on
9 November 30, 2017, and given active prescriptions for psychiatric medications.
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
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Mackenzie Catalano Attempts Suicide
Telephone: (602) 400-4400 ♦ Fax: (602) 265-0267
12 half months for a dangerous drug violation. She reentered the Arizona state prison
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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1 41. Following the suicide attempt, Mackenzie participated in mental health
2 treatment, including psychiatric medications.
3 42. Mackenzie was again released to community supervision on December
4 30, 2021, and she was readmitted on March 31, 2022.
5 Mackenzie’s Final Incarceration Ends with Her Suicide.
6 43. Upon Mackenzie’s March 31, 2022 readmission, Mackenzie reported
7 recent IV drug use, putting her at risk for opiate withdrawal. She was placed on
8 opiate withdrawal protocol, and she was noted to have bipolar disorder.
9 44. On April 2, 2022, Mackenzie was placed on suicide watch for active
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
11 substance abuse history. Mackenzie reported that she was thinking of hanging
301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
12 herself and disclosed that she had attempted to hang herself another time in prison.
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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1 CAUSES OF ACTION
2 COUNT ONE
3 Negligence / Medical Negligence
4 (All Defendants)
5 51. Defendant State of Arizona had a non-delegable duty to provide
6 healthcare to inmates, such as Mackenzie Catalano. Defendant State of Arizona is
7 liable for the acts and omissions of its contractor Centurion, and/or its employees,
8 and/or its agents.
9 52. Employees of ADC had a duty of care, custody, and control, to include
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
11 contemplating suicide.
301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
12 53. Employees of ADC had a duty of care, custody, and control; and, to
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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1 COUNT TWO
2 Wrongful Death
3 (All Defendants)
4 58. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
5 the preceding paragraphs of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
6 59. At all relevant times, the Defendants had a duty to exercise ordinary care to
7 provide for the safety and well-being of Mackenzie Catalano.
8 60. Defendants breached those duties, as set forth in this Complaint.
9 61. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ actions and inactions,
ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
10 Mackenzie died.
Telephone: (602) 400-4400 ♦ Fax: (602) 265-0267
11 62. Mackenzie’s death has caused, among other damage, Plaintiff’s needless
301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
13 63. Mackenzie’s death has also deprived Plaintiff of Mackenzie’s love, affection,
14 companionship, comfort, guidance, and sustained other damages that will be demonstrated
15 at trial.
16 JURY TRIAL DEMAND
17 64. Plaintiffs hereby demands a jury trial in this matter as to all her claims and
18 against
19 PRAYER FOR RELIEF
20 WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that the Court enter judgment against
21 Defendants and in favor of Plaintiff, as follows:
22 a. For compensatory, general and special damages against Defendants in an
23 amount to be proven at trial;
24 e. For such other relief as this Court may deem proper.
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26 ///
27 ///
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1 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: March 31, 2023
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ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
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By: /s/ Jesse M. Showalter
4 Jesse M. Showalter
5 Anne E. Findling
Lauren E. Channell
6 301 E. Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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Attorneys for Plaintiff
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ROBBINS CURTIN MILLEA & SHOWALTER, LLC
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Telephone: (602) 400-4400 ♦ Fax: (602) 265-0267
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301 East Bethany Home Road, Suite B-100
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Phoenix, Arizona 85012
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