York County settles lawsuit in Everett Palmer Jr.'s death, family to receive $1.5 million

Teresa Boeckel, York Daily Record
·2 min read

York County has reached a $1.5 million settlement with the family of Everett Palmer Jr., who died five years ago while in custody at the county jail.

Rose Palmer, Everett's mother, filed a lawsuit in April 2020 in the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg. It alleged that corrections officers drugged and murdered her son and that various elected officials, government employees and medical professionals conspired to cover up his death.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson approved the settlement, which is sealed.

The county released a copy of the general release and confidential settlement agreement. It states that the family will receive a million dollars from the county and $500,000 from PrimeCare Medical, Inc., the prison's healthcare provider.

The county does not admit any liability, it states.

Attorney John Coyle, who represents Rose Palmer, filed an affidavit of compliance with the settlement and distribution order in court earlier this month. It states that "the principle payments to fund the structured settlement have received by Pacific Life, the structured settlement provider."

He wrote that his firm has received payment of the remaining settlement amount, and distribution of the money separate from the structured settlement payments has been made.

Coyle could not be reached for comment.

Inside Seg B Cell 3: The last days, and death, of Everett Palmer Jr. at York County Prison

Everett Palmer's death drew national attention

From the left, Rev. A'Kim K. Beecham offers prayer with brother Lamar, mother Rose, brother Dwaye and sister April Palmer outside the York County Judicial Center Monday. Family members and supporters of Everett Palmer Jr. who died while in custody at York County Prison demanded answers about the circumstances of his death, stating that they do not believe he took his own life.

Palmer, 41, of Seaford, Delaware died on April 9, 2018, two days after he turned himself in a 2016 DUI case. Corrections officers extracted him from his cell when he started banging his head on the door.

Palmer's cause of death was “complications following an excited state, associated with methamphetamine toxicity, during physical restraint,” the York County Coroner's Office reported. Probable sickling red cell disorder was cited as a contributory factor.

The manner of death was undetermined, the coroner stated.

The case has received national media attention over the years. President Donald Trump met with the family at the White House.

A York County investigative grand jury probed Palmer's death and issued a 174-page report and issued 24 recommendations, but District Attorney Dave Sunday said his office had concluded that no probable cause existed to file criminal charges in the case.

The U.S. Department of Justice also investigated the case but decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue civil rights charges.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Everett Palmer Jr.'s family receives $1.5 million in suit settlement