Wayne County Jail Death Lawsuit Settled

Stephen Walsh of the firm teamed up with John Steward (St. Louis) to file, prosecute and ultimately mediate a civil rights lawsuit against the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Dean Finch, 10 Deputies and the County of Wayne.

The suit involved R.B., age 59, who was arrested in Iron County and then transferred to Wayne County awaiting trial. After he was in the Wayne County Jail for a few days, his health took a terrible turn for the worse and he quit eating and drinking, lost control of all his bodily functions and for the next 7 days, his health went downhill. His 6 cellmates suffered trying to get him to eat and drink – which he refused – and cleaning him up in the shower from his body waste. Numerous written complaints were made by his cellmates because it was obvious that his health was declining and his life was in danger.

Finally, a jailer recognized that he was terribly ill and getting worse each day and called for an ambulance. He was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center where he was evaluated and placed in ICU, suffering from acute kidney injury due to severe sepsis, altered mental status, A-fib, dehydration, elevated liver enzymes, shock liver and multiorgan failure. He survived another 15 days in the hospital before he eventually died from his condition, all which started in the Wayne County Jail.

“This case evoked the highest emotional points possible from the 3 focus groups we conducted on the case,” said Walsh. “Emotions drive verdicts and I think the insurance company and their fine, capable lawyer recognized that fact. Though it was truly a tragedy for the brother and sister of R.B., they finally received closure and a decent settlement and can now move on with their lives”.