ST. LOUIS - A lengthy wrongful death lawsuit against the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services and many others was levered into federal court on April 15.
The complaint was originally filed in the St. Louis County Circuit Court on Aug. 6, 2020, by plaintiff Margaret Starks; Starks' son died while detained at the St. Louis County Justice Center.
The defendants also include Director of Public Health Faizel Khan, Director of Justice Services Herb Bernsen, Buzz Westfall Justice Center physicians Delores Gunn and Fred Rottnek, a Buzz Westfall Justice nurse whose first name is Melissa and last name unknown, Buzz Westfall Justice Center employees E. Criss and Commander Trachsell, and numerous unidentified others.
The decedent was admitted to the Buzz Westfall Justice Center on Aug. 4, 2015; it was noted during intake that he had a history of drug abuse and that his blood pressure was currently high, the suit says.
During his time at the center the decedent was administered Clonidine for his drug withdrawals, and told jail staff that he was not feeling well after taking the withdrawal medication according to the suit.
The decedent died within two days of admittance to the center due to his heroin and cocaine withdrawal, dehydration and cardiac dysrythmia, the suit says.
The suit accuses the defendants of allowing the decedent to go over 24 hours in obvious medical distress with no emergent medical attention.
The defendants are charged with deprivation of medical care, negligence per se and failure to train, supervise and/or discipline.
The plaintiff is represented by Mark J. Pedroli of Clayton.