Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Boone County, jail staff for inmate who died from withdrawal
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The parents of a Boone County Jail inmate who died in 2022 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several defendants, including Boone County and Sheriff Dwayne Carey.
The lawsuit claims that Douglas Johnson, 26, died on July 2, 2022, while in the jail’s custody after suffering from opioid withdrawals. David and Carla Johnson filed the lawsuit on Tuesday against several defendants, including 16 deputies, the jail administrator, Carey, the county, Advanced Correctional Healthcare, a doctor and four nurses.
The lawsuit accuses ACH, and the other medical professionals of wrongful death by medical malpractice while all other defendants were accused of multiple counts of deliberate indifference.
The 102-page lawsuit says that Douglas Johnson was booked into the jail at 5:08 a.m. June 29, 2022. A medical screening allegedly said Johnson was not under the influence, while a response form by the booking officer indicated he was, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says additional questions were not asked since staff declared Johnson did not have withdrawal symptoms.
The complaint alleges Johnson was high on fentanyl when he was booked into the jail and started experiencing withdrawal symptoms; and claims jail staff refused to take vital signs and detox vital signs.
It also alleges staff knew Johnson to be a daily user of fentanyl and had a history of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It also claims that Johnson was not given food and eventually experienced intense symptoms of withdrawal before being brought to an area hospital on July 2.