Complaint filed by parent of deceased Chatham County Jail inmate removed to federal court
The lawsuit filed by attorneys for the parent of a man who died in the Chatham County Detention Center in March 2023 against Chatham County has been removed from Chatham County State Court to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, according to court documents obtained by the Savannah Morning News.
The complaint was filed on behalf of Gregory Alan Woods, who died in the Chatham County Detention Center on the morning of March 5, 2023, by attorneys for Henry Ashley Woods, who is listed as Gregory's surviving parent.
In the complaint, Woods' attorneys allege a failure to render appropriate aid after he was allegedly assaulted and battered, leaving him in distress for an extended period of time and a failure to secure appropriate and timely medical treatment for him, as previously reported by SMN. Defendants named in the complaint include Chatham County, current Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman, in addition to an unnamed healthcare provider and unnamed correctional officers and medical staff.
The complaint was filed by Ashleigh Madison of Southeast Law and Andrew Lavoie of Bruce, Matthews & Lavoie, in Chatham County State Court nearly two years after Woods' death. The attorneys seek $5 million for multiple alleged damages, including wrongful death, assault, battery and excessive force, medical, funeral and burial expenses, in addition to a violation of 42 U.S. Code § 1983, a civil action for the deprivation of rights.
More: Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigates death in Chatham County jail
More: Parent of deceased Chatham County Detention Center inmate files complaint against county
More: With few beds, fewer psychologists, Georgia inmates wait months for mental health evaluations
On Monday, Chatham County Attorney Jonathan Hart and Chatham County Assistant County Attorney Andre Pretorius also filed an answer to the complaint on behalf of Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman, Chatham County and other county defendants.
In the answer, Pretorius and Hart lodged more than 20 defenses and denied numerous allegations. The county attorneys argue that Woods was not deprived of access to medical services and his injuries 'were not proximately caused by any negligence or other tortious acts or omissions.'
Woods' attorneys 'fail to state a claim or cause of action against one or more of these Defendants upon which relief can be granted,' the county attorneys allege. County defendants 'at all times acted in good faith without malice and without an intent to cause injury.' Any injuries or damages suffered by Woods 'is the result of actions or inactions on the part of the Plaintiff and therefore Plaintiff cannot recover from County Defendants,' the county attorneys also argue.
'Having answered the complaint and stated their defenses, County Defendants request that judgment be entered in their favor against the Plaintiff, that Plaintiff take nothing of County Defendants, that County Defendants be awarded and Plaintiff be assessed all costs incurred, including attorney's fees, that all costs of this action be taxed against the Plaintiff, and for such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper,' the county's answer reads.
In a phone call, Pretorius confirmed that the county attorneys filed an answer to the complaint and removed the case to federal court but declined further comment. Madison and Lavoie did not return an email requesting comment as of publication time.
Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County Jail death complaint removed to federal court
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