$10,000 Negligence Settlement for Ohio Prisoner
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) agreed to a $10,000 settlement in a prisoner’s lawsuit alleging injuries due to a guard’s negligence and failure to provide medical treatment.
While working on a work crew at Lebanon Correctional Institute (LCI), prisoner Christopher T. Jackson was “negligently struck, knocked down, and partially run over from behind by a state owned vehicle.” The vehicle, driven by prison employee W. Estep, was “negligently and knowingly” operated with its back up (reverse) alarm system not working.
Rather than await trained emergency personnel, Jackson was “convinced and/or coerced” into allowing LCI employee Michael Demartino to lift and move him. Staff at the LCI medical department failed to take Jackson to a hospital, order X-rays or have an MRI taken, and refused to examine him for 10 days.
When he was finally seen by Dr. James McWeeney, no tests were taken nor was he given an order to avoid work. As a result, Jackson was ordered to work three days after the incident. He also received a conduct report and was placed into segregation for seven days after he was unable to work due to severe pain.
Jackson sued, complaining the negligence of the defendants resulted in his suffering chronic neck and back pain since the accident. The ODRC agreed in June 2014 to a $10,000 settlement. Jackson was represented by attorney Richard F. Swope.
See: Jackson v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio Court of Claims, Case No. 2012-04782.
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Related legal case
Jackson v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
| Year | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Ohio Court of Claims, Case No. 2012-04782. |
| Level | Court of Claims |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 10,000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |