Filed Date: July 17, 2020
Case Ongoing
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This lawsuit was filed in 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota by the estate of a diabetic Native American man who died as a pretrial detainee in the custody of the Hughes County Jail. The estate, represented by private counsel, brought claims for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs, failure to provide adequate medical care, race discrimination, and violations of state law.
The lawsuit -- brought against Hughes County and various individual employees of Hughes County Jail -- alleged that when the decedent was booked into the Jail, on Thursday, July 13, 2018, his blood sugar was checked and was outside the normal range. Jail staff attempted to contact the jail's nurse, whose approval was required before they could administer the decedent's diabetes medication. The nurse said that she would evaluate his condition upon her return from vacation the following Monday. She maintained this position and did not approve administration of medication or other intervention despite repeated calls from staff over the next two days as the decedent's condition worsened. On Sunday, July 16, 2018, tests showed that his blood sugar levels had increased and his blood pressure had decreased, and he was suffering from physical symptoms including sweating, vomiting, and nausea. Responding to another call from staff, the nurse stated that the decedent would be fine until the next day, when she would be able to evaluate him. The decedent was not given medication for his diabetes or otherwise referred for evaluation or care. On Monday July 17, 2018, he was discovered unresponsive in his cell and was transferred to the local hospital, where he died the next day. Based on these allegations, his estate brought claims for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs in violation of the 8th and 14th Amendments, race discrimination in violation of the 14th Amendment, and state law claims including breach of contract, negligence, and negligent nursing care and treatment. The estate sought declaratory relief, damages, and attorneys' fees and costs. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier was assigned.
Defendants moved to dismiss the race discrimination and state law claims and, on May 21, 2021, the Court granted the motion. It found the allegations in the complaint insufficient to support the race discrimination claim. It further held that neither the decedent nor his estate were intended beneficiaries of the contract at issue and thus could not sue for its breach, and that the negligence claims failed for improper notice and because the action was filed outside of the state's medical malpractice statute of repose. 2021 WL 2043070.
The parties have reportedly reached a settlement agreement that is pending approval from the Tribal Court. The settlement includes damages as well as an agreement from the County to revise its inmate medical care policies and procedures. As of September 29, 2021, the case is ongoing and the docket does not yet reflect the reported settlement agreement.
Summary Authors
Tessa Bialek (9/29/2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17363790/parties/estes-v-hughes-county-south-dakota/
Carpenter, Frances Crockett (New Mexico)
Abraham, Douglas A (South Dakota)
Anderson, Robert B. (South Dakota)
Duffy, Daniel P. (Illinois)
Hieb, Jack H. (South Dakota)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17363790/estes-v-hughes-county-south-dakota/
Last updated March 7, 2025, 8:48 a.m.
State / Territory: South Dakota
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 17, 2020
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Special administrator of the estate of a diabetic Native American man who died in the custody of the Hughes County Jail.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Hughes County, South Dakota (Hughes), County
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Race(s):
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Medical/Mental Health Care: