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| Family of Dead Inmate Sues Ill. County, Sheriff |
| By Chicago Daily Herald |
| Published: 07/30/2003 |
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The family of a Will County jail inmate who died during an asthma attack claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the correctional staff was negligent. Patrick Cooper, 26, of Lockport was being held in the Adult Detention Facility in Joliet. He was accused of failing to appear on a warrant for drug charges since June 13. He died en route to the hospital for treatment of a severe asthma attack July 7. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in federal court on behalf of Cooper's father, James, and names Sheriff Paul Kaupas, the sheriff's department and Will County as defendants. James Cooper says that jail staff failed to respond promptly when his son suffered the attack and did not follow proper procedures. He also says the sheriff's department did not train employees in how to deal with medical emergencies, like asthma. Kaupas said Cooper had seen doctors four times since he was incarcerated and was allowed to use his own inhaler. Attorney Kurt Lloyd, who represents the family, called it a tragedy that Cooper's children, Patrick, 4, and Mayia, 2, were left fatherless. Correctional officers 'were not equipped to respond appropriately,' Lloyd said. He alleged that Cooper was issued a different type of medication than the one he normally used and it was not as effective. Lloyd also claimed that it took about 10 minutes for employees to respond to other inmates seeking to help Cooper. 'They know they have a large population of (inmates) with asthma - they're bound to have attacks and they're not equipped to respond appropriately,' he said. Kaupas contended that jail staff did everything they could to care properly for Cooper and to help him. 'It's based on nothing,' he said of the lawsuit. 'It's unfortunate it occurred but it's not our fault he passed due to asthma.' Correctional officers had just checked on Cooper a short time before he became ill, Kaupas said. |
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