$525,000 Settlement in Georgia Prisoner’s Death Caused by Untreated Alcohol Withdrawal
$525,000 Settlement in Georgia Prisoner’s Death Caused by Untreated Alcohol Withdrawal
A $525,000 settlement was reached in the death of a prisoner at the Coweta County Jail. The death was occurred while the prisoner was strapped to a restraint chair while suffering alcohol withdrawal.
William C. Sutton, Sr., 58, was sentenced to serve 90 days for a DUI. Two days after entering jail on January 23, 2008, Sutton suffered a seizure and was diagnosed by Dr. Miriam Burnett as suffering from alcohol withdrawal. She allowed him to return to his cell after prescribing anti-seizure and anti-withdrawal medication.
The next day, Sutton had another seizure and was taken to a hospital Once stablished, he returned to the jail. Over the next six days, Sutton was agitated and experienced incoherent speech, hallucinations, confusion and loss of mobility. On the morning of January 31, guards placed him in a restraint chair in the booking area after he showed signs of Deliriums Tremens (DT’s).
He spent 14 hours in the chair—12 hours longer than the manufacturer recommended. Sutton was allowed out of the chair only to eat and to visit the infirmary. After one trip to the infirmary, he was strapped into the chair, allegedly for his own protection. Three hours later he experienced a heart attack and died.
His estate sued for failure to treat, and settled for $525,000 on December 14, 2010. The estate was represented by Albert M. Pearson III, and D. Brandon Hornsby.
See: Sutton v. Coweta County, USDC, D Georgia, Case No 3:10-CV-011
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Related legal case
Sutton v. Coweta County
| Year | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC, D Georgia, Case No 3:10-CV-011 |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 525,000.00 |