Mother sues county, jail workers over son’s death in custody

EVERETT — The mother of Michael Saffioti on Wednesday filed a lawsuit alleging several corrections employees were deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of the Mukilteo man before his 2012 death in the Snohomish County Jail.

The 14-page complaint, filed in King County Superior Court, listed as defendants the county and five individual employees — a corrections officer and four registered nurses. It alleges that a lack of timely medical treatment amounted to a violation of Saffioti’s civil rights.

Rose Saffioti filed the lawsuit on behalf of her son’s estate.

The lawsuit alleges that jail employees were well aware of Saffioti’s asthma and allergies to dairy products and failed to act in a timely manner when he collapsed in his cell July 3, 2012.

The lawsuit does not list a dollar amount being sought. She previously filed a claim against the county seeking $10 million in damages.

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