Robins Kaplan LLP announced today a $2.75 million settlement for its client Deyonta Green, who was denied access to critical healthcare while incarcerated at Anoka County Jail, leading to severe and long-lasting injuries.
Green, who struggled with addiction issues, entered the jail on February 5, 2022, shortly after his most recent drug use. Jail officials and medical staff were fully aware of the risks associated with opioid and stimulant withdrawal and the critical importance of properly utilizing and tapering medication-assisted treatment. Despite Green having a valid prescription for Suboxone, a medication critical for managing his withdrawal symptoms, jail medical staff refused to provide him with the medication.
At the time of Green’s incarceration, Anoka County Jail contracted with MEnD Correctional Care, a now-bankrupt healthcare company, to deliver medical services. MEnD repeatedly failed to meet its contractual obligations, including providing adequate staffing at the jail.
Green's repeated efforts to receive his medication, including numerous calls and emails from his family and probation officer, were ignored by jail officials. As a result, Green endured severe withdrawal symptoms, including tremors, nausea, sleep disturbances, and eating problems. His deteriorating condition was well-documented by jail staff, but no medical intervention was provided.
After several days of suffering without medical attention, Green's condition worsened. He fell from his bunk and was found lying in a disturbing position, partly under the bottom bunk. The fall, compounded by withdrawal, resulted in severe medical issues, including multifocal intraparenchymal hemorrhages, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages, an occipital epidural hematoma, acute renal failure, and other critical injuries. In a final act of neglect, jail staff forced Green to walk down a flight of stairs to the ambulance transporting him to the hospital.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the need for reform in correctional healthcare systems,” said lead attorney Katie Bennett. "The deliberate denial of necessary medical treatment not only violates basic human rights, but it also exposes individuals to preventable harm. This is not just a failure of one facility but a reflection of a much larger systemic issue within the correctional system. We must demand accountability and ensure that no one, regardless of their status, is subjected to this kind of inhumane neglect.”
The civil rights team representing Green included Katie Bennett, Marc Betinsky, and Julie Moroney.
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