Courts - Missouri Suit filed over death of St. Louis inmate ACLU says man did not get proper care for heart condition

By Jim Salter Associated Press Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday over the death of a jail inmate in St. Louis, claiming he did not get proper care for a heart condition. The ACLU suit was filed in St. Louis Circuit Court on behalf of Landa Poke and seeks unspecified damages of at least $25,000. Poke's brother, Courtland Lucas, was 32 when he died at the St. Louis City Justice Center on May 25, 2009, five days after he was jailed on a probation violation. ACLU attorney Tony Rothert said Lucas suffered from chronic heart disease and was wearing a pacemaker when taken into custody. The suit contends that Correctional Medical Services, the company that contracts with the city to provide medical service for inmates, failed to provide proper medications or care for Lucas. "They didn't do the initial screening to determine medical problems, and even though his family called and made them aware of his medical conditions and the medicines he was on, he did not receive the medications," Rothert said. CMS spokesman Ken Fields said the company had not yet seen or been served with the lawsuit and could not comment on details of the allegations. "Our correctional health care professionals are dedicated to treating the medical needs of inmate-patients. They provide quality care in a timely manner," Fields said. A message left with a spokeswoman for the city of St. Louis was not returned. The suit was the second filed by the ACLU in the past month related to problems at Missouri jails. A September suit was filed on behalf of Gary Gieselman, who was being held on a bad check charge in 2005 in the Washington County jail when he was severely beaten by fellow inmates. The suit claims jailers intentionally placed Gieselman in a cell with violent inmates used as enforcers to rough up those who crossed the jailers. ACLU officials said the cases demonstrate the need for independent oversight of jails in St. Louis and elsewhere in Missouri. Published: Thu, Oct 14, 2010