$1.3M payment would settle suit over Darryl Becton death in Arlington jail

Becton died on Oct. 1, 2020, of what a state medical examiner described as hypertensive cardiovascular disease complicated by opiate withdrawal.

The lawsuit the family filed in March 2022 alleged that Becton was ignored for hours as he underwent severe withdrawal and died in a cell. The proposed settlement, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, awaits a judge’s approval.

Under its terms, the administrator of Becton’s estate, Monique Ford, agreed to dismissal of claims against Arlington Sheriff Elizabeth Arthur, Corizon Health Inc. and others named in the suit. The defendants continued to deny any negligence or liability, according to the terms, but agreed to a $1.325 million payment to the plaintiff.

Mark J. Krudys, an attorney for the Becton family, declined to comment Saturday until the court finalizes the settlement. Attorneys for the defendants could not immediately be reached.

After payment of legal fees and expenses, the agreement says, about $900,000 would remain to be divided among five beneficiaries of Becton’s estate, who are his adult children.