BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—On Friday, five Berkeley County detention officers were ordered to pay $2.95 million after a jury found them liable for the death of David Allan Woods, an inmate at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center who reportedly died under their watch on November 11, 2010.
His estate filed a civil lawsuit in late 2012. A U.S. District Court judge heard the case this week in Charleston.
According to the lawsuit, 50-year-old David Woods had a history of medical problems including: bipolar depressive disorder, gastrointestinal bleeds, cirrhosis of the liver, etc.
On September 10, 2010 he was tried and convicted of shoplifting and animal nuisances. He was ordered to pay a fine of $2, 130 or spend an additional 30 days in jail for the first charge. For the second charge, he was ordered to pay $237.50 or spend an extra 30 days in jail.
In October, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after his inability to pay the fines. He was booked into the Hill-Finklea Detention Center. The lawsuit claims that Woods indicated on a physical assessment form at the jail that he had a history of serious medical problems.
A few days after he was booked into the jail, the lawsuit alleges that Woods submitted a sick call request, asking to be transported to a psychiatric hospital and to see a doctor for his liver and medication.
The lawsuit alleges that the nurse informed Woods that the jail did not provide the medications he requested but stated that she had faxed the form to mental health.
The attorneys for Woods’ estate claim that there is no jail policy that supports the nurse’s statements concerning these medications, nor did the facility ever receive a doctor’s order to discontinue these medications.
Lawyers for Woods say that he eventually began complaining about having severe pain in his intestines and liver and also reported that his stools were bloody. They argues that Woods wasn’t transported to Trident Medical Center until he was in critical condition.
The lawsuit alleges that the detention officers ignored Woods’ declining health while inside the jail and were negligent in the handling of his care.
After a four-day trial, a jury reached a verdict Friday after several hours of deliberation. The money award in the case will go to Woods’ 86-year-old mother.
To read the lawsuit in its entirety, click here.
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