Parents of man who died in jail sue Pierce County

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The family of an inmate who died in the Pierce County Jail has sued the county in federal court  in Tacoma.


The family had earlier filed a $2 million claim against the sheriff and county, alleging violation of their son's civil rights. The claim paved the way for a filing of a lawsuit.

The News Tribune reports (http://goo.gl/MfZ2mR ) Ben and Nona Smith filed the lawsuit last week on behalf on their 48-year-old son Matthew Smith.

Medical records say he died on a jail cell floor in October 2015 from an infection related to Crohn's disease.

The lawsuit says the infection came from insufficient medical attention including a failure by staff to identify his worsening condition.

The suit also names NaphCare Inc., a correctional health care firm, and two nurses, alleging their lack of treatment constituted inhumane conditions.

Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said jail staff called medical personnel when Smith was found on the floor.

An attorney for NaphCare said the company had not been served with the lawsuit making it premature for them to comment.