Lawsuit: Jail denied inmate meds, leading to suicide attempt
A 33-year-old Elburn man has sued the Kane County sheriff, arguing that jail officials refused to give him medication for anxiety, seizures and depression for nearly a week in December 2012, causing him to attempt suicide.
The attorney for Randy K. Brattin, who is serving a prison term for this fourth DUI, says his client told jail officials about the medicine and a relative also repeatedly called, but to no avail.
“He wasn’t provided with his medication. (He was) forcefully taken off his medication,” attorney Eric Witten said. “We’ve alleged they were given notification of his condition, his medication and ignored that. We have a pretty good record that the Kane County sheriff’s department was well aware of his medical and medicinal needs.”
Wexford Health Sources Inc., a Pittsburgh-based correctional health care company, also is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. A message left with Wexford was not immediately returned Friday.
A message left for Sheriff Pat Perez also was not immediately returned. In the past, Perez has said his office cannot comment on pending litigation.
Brattin was arrested Nov. 30, 2012, on felony charges of his fourth DUI, aggravated fleeing and eluding and other traffic charges, according to court records.
Witten said his client did not receive medication from then through Dec. 6, 2012, when he cut his wrists in an attempt to kill himself. Witten declined to elaborate on his client’s injuries, citing medical privacy laws, but indicated Brattin was alone in his cell at the time.
Brattin eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI last June and was sentenced to four years in prison, fined $1,335, and given credit for 202 days spent in custody while the case was pending. With time off for good behavior, Brattin has a tentative prison release date of Nov. 30, 2014, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Brattin’s lawsuit is due in Kane County court Feb. 20. He seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial.