The federal government has paid $800,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a suicidal Air Force veteran who jumped to his death from Tripler Army Medical Center after his pleas to be admitted went unheeded, the family's attorney said today.

Robert Roth, 50, died in January 2007 after he jumped from a 10th-floor

balcony at Tripler.

The family had sued the U.S. government, alleging that Tripler was careless and negligent in its dealings with Roth.

If Tripler had admitted Roth on either of two instances when he went to the hospital seeking help, he would have been hospitalized for a short period, had his anti-depressant medication adjusted and would not have jumped to his death, according to Rick Fried, the family's attorney.

The $800,000 settlement means a trial scheduled for next month will not be held, Fried said.

A Tripler representative could not be immediately reached for comment.