Suit blames medical care in jail for McHenry man's death

The family of a former McHenry County jail inmate is suing the county, jail, its health care provider and two of its medical personnel, claiming substandard treatment he received while incarcerated last October caused his death nearly seven months later.

The wrongful death suit, filed by the mother of deceased McHenry resident Steven Crook, seeks more than $50,000 in damages for what it calls careless and negligent medical care he received in jail.

Crook, 35, died May 29 as a result of heart disease, according to the McHenry County Coroner's office. Tony Romanucci, the attorney for Crook's mother, said care received while in jail led to his death.

"It was something that started when he was not properly treated and it ultimately caused his death," Romanucci said. "Just because you're in prison

doesn't mean you're entitled to any lesser care than any other citizen."

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said he had not yet seen the lawsuit and, therefore, could not comment. Named as defendants alongside the county and jail is Correct Care Solutions, the company contracted to provide medical care to county inmates. Officials there could not be reached for comment.

According to the suit, Crook, who suffered from diabetes, was given the antipsychotic drug Haldol while in the jail last fall, despite it being contraindicated for people with blood sugar issues.

As a result, the suit claims, Crook suffered a severe reaction to the drug, possibly neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which was a proximate cause of his death.

Crook, according to court records, was in jail while facing a felony retail theft charge. He pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2008 and served a brief sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections before his death.

The case is scheduled to make its first court appearance March 2 in front of Judge Thomas Meyer.