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Bennie Daryl Scott filed a lawsuit against McLennan County, Texas, and jail officials for alleged mistreatment after suffering a seizure in jail. The complaint includes claims of excessive force, inadequate medical care, and a cover-up by the defendants. This case echoes a previous lawsuit against the county, raising concerns about mistreatment and negligence towards inmates with medical conditions.

McLennan County Named in Another Lawsuit Over Alleged Jail Misconduct

On March 15, 2024, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division, by Bennie Daryl Scott. In this civil action and jury demand, Scott asserts claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against various defendants including McLennan County, Texas; Sheriff Parnell McNamara, Jail Administrator Ricky Armstrong, Jailers Joebani Hernandez, Devon Colquette, Gary Krenek, Raygan Woodward, Joshua Davis, Omar Pargas, Eugene Kritzer, Jerry Dickerson, Perry Hyden, and LVN Michelle Goebel with McLennan County.

McLennan County Inmate Claimed to Have a Seizure

The lawsuit stems from an incident on March 20, 2022, when Scott, an inmate at the McLennan County Jail, suffered a severe seizure, leading to involuntary movements and acute grand mal seizure symptoms. Despite Scott’s prior warnings and indications of his condition, jail officers allegedly responded with excessive force, causing further harm. The complaint details how Scott was reportedly physically assaulted, sustaining severe bodily and psychological injuries, including a severe laceration to his eye.

Furthermore, Scott alleges that he was subjected to unnecessary restraints, including hand restraints, ankle restraints, and placement in an Emergency Restraint Chair, resulting in additional injuries. The lawsuit asserts that these actions led to Scott experiencing severe physical and psychological trauma, including ongoing pain, suffering, disfigurement, severe anxiety, speech problems, and a degraded quality of life.

McLennan County is Alleged to Have Covered Up the Incident

Notably, the complaint highlights the defendants’ alleged failure to provide adequate medical care and to document the incident properly. It is claimed that medical chart notes were not recorded, and video surveillance of the incident was allegedly unavailable due to technical issues with the recording system. Additionally, the lawsuit details the plaintiff’s efforts to address the mistreatment through the jail’s grievance system, which reportedly yielded unsatisfactory outcomes.

In response to these allegations, McLennan County officials purportedly deemed Scott’s complaints unfounded, leading him to seek redress through the legal system and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

McLennan County Inmate Seeks Redress

Bennie Daryl Scott’s lawsuit seeks damages and other relief for the alleged violations of his constitutional rights, including protection from excessive force and cruel and unusual punishment, as well as violations of disability rights under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The plaintiff asserts that he exhausted all available grievance procedures before resorting to litigation, including multiple attempts to raise his concerns through the jail’s grievance system and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Previously Filed Lawsuit on McLennan County

If there is a sense of déjà vu, it may be because there is indeed a lingering familiarity to these circumstances. Approximately half a year earlier, McLennan County found itself under scrutiny for its management of another inmate’s seizure, a situation bearing striking resemblance to the current case. In contrast to the current incident, the previous occurrence, unlike this one, was thoroughly documented and scrutinized, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing discussion.

The previous lawsuit involving Marvin Berry and this federal lawsuit against McLennan County both depict incidents of alleged mistreatment and negligence towards inmates with medical conditions at the McLennan County Jail. In both cases, the inmates claim to have informed the jail staff about their medical conditions and specific needs, only to face alleged disregard and mistreatment.

In the case of Marvin Berry, he informed the jail staff of his medical condition requiring a bottom bunk but was not assigned one, leading to a seizure while on the top bunk. He further alleges being assaulted by the jail staff during the seizure, resulting in serious injuries and a degraded quality of life.

Similarly, Bennie Daryl Scott’s lawsuit outlines an incident where Scott, an inmate at the McLennan County Jail, suffered a severe seizure, and despite prior warnings and indications of his condition, jail officers allegedly responded with excessive force, causing further harm. The lawsuit also alleges unnecessary restraints and a degraded quality of life due to the mistreatment.

Both cases raise concerns about the treatment of inmates with medical conditions at the McLennan County Jail, indicating a pattern of alleged negligence and mistreatment by the jail staff, leading to severe injuries and degraded quality of life for the inmates involved.

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