Leonard Trial Lawyers files lawsuit based on deliberate indifference to its client’s medical needs. Leonard Trial Lawyers attorneys Michael Leonard and Matthew Chivari filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The case is on the Court Docket in that jurisdiction as Case Number 2025 CV __. The lawsuit arises out of the serious medical consequences suffered by the Plaintiff from what is alleged to be the “deliberate indifference” to the serious medical condition of the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff alleges that he was (and presently is) an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections (“IDOC”) at its correctional institution located in Shawnee, Illinois.
As part of the factual background for the case, the Plaintiff alleges that he had a serious medical condition, i.e., Sickle Cell Disease. The Plaintiff alleges that the Defendants, including the IDOC employees at issue as well as the Defendant company who purportedly contracted with the IDOC to provide medical services at Shawnee, were aware of and on notice of that medical condition. The Plaintiff further alleges that he began to experience serious manifestations of his condition, and as a result he was in great pain and agony. Plaintiff additionally alleges that, despite crying out for help repeatedly, the Defendants ignored his condition. Plaintiff also alleges that Defendants ignored the pleas of Plaintiff’s fellow inmates that Plaintiff urgently needed assistance.
Ultimately, Plaintiff alleges that he was found the next day, unconscious and non-responsive. Plaintiff was airlifted for treatment to St. Louis, Missouri for treatment, which included multiple surgeries.
The Plaintiff seeks monetary and other relief from the Defendants.
As always, the allegations in any lawsuit, including in this one, constitute just that – allegations – that the Plaintiff and his counsel must prove by a preponderance of the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence standard in a civil lawsuit legally equates to a “more likely than not standard,” in other words greater than 50 percent.
The attorneys at Leonard Trial Lawyer look forward to litigating and taking to a jury trial this lawsuit.
Michael Leonard
Matthew Chivari
Leonard Trial Lawyers
January 31, 2025