Kansas City Townsend Law Firm

Missouri Inmate Kept In Restraint Chair For Five Days

On Behalf of | Oct 15, 2019 | Personal Injury

Personal injury cases arise in various ways, and no two cases are the same. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the careless, negligent, or willful actions of another person, please seek legal assistance today. At Townsend Law LLC, our Kansas City personal injury attorneys are ready to help you get through this difficult time. Today, we want to discuss a case that was just filed against Wayne County, its sheriff, deputies, and jailers.

What happened in this case?

We have learned that a federal lawsuit was filed against several defendants regarding injuries to an inmate. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Albert Okal, names Wayne County and its sheriff, along with several other county employees.

Okal was 41-years-old when he was arrested for DUI in December 2016. His attorney says that Okal suffered from an unknown manic episode while incarcerated, leading to jailers putting him in what is known as “The Chair.”

“Their solution was to put him in a restraint chair rather than be checked out by a medical officer,” said the attorney representing the case.

The attorney for the plaintiff says that Okal was not allowed restroom breaks and was forced to urinate and defecate in his pants. The lawsuit claims that Okal was forced to wear a blanket over his head for one period of at least 24 hours. The attorney for the case also claims that Okal’s wrists were shackled even at mealtime and that jailers forced food and water down his throat.

The lawsuit claims that Okal suffered from physical pain and emotional trauma and that he was subjected to racial slurs throughout the ordeal. Okal was born in Kenya.

What are personal injury cases?

A personal injury case arises when someone is injured due to the careless, negligent, or willful actions of someone else. In the case above, the actions of corrections staff in Wayne County may have caused severe harm to an inmate. However, the following are also common causes of personal injury cases in Missouri and here in Kansas City:

We are ready to get to work today

If you or someone you care about has been injured due to the negligent or willful actions of another person, seek legal assistance immediately. At Townsend Law LLC, we are going to be by your side to help you get through this difficult period. Our qualified and experienced team will investigate what happened as we work to secure the following compensation:

  • Your medical expenses related to the incident
  • Lost wages and benefits if you cannot work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of personal enjoyment damages
  • Punitive damages against those responsible for the injury

If you need a Kansas City personal injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 833-869-6529.