NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana man says sheriff’s deputies and medical staff of the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex denied him treatment for an infection while he was incarcerated.
Michael Nixon filed a lawsuit Jan. 29 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter; Maj. Claude Triche, warden of the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex; Richard Neal, the complex’s medical director; Richard Haydel, provider of medical services; three unidentified sheriff’s deputies; an unidentified medical staff member; the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated City Government; XYZ Insurance Co.; and ABC Insurance Co.; alleging negligence and civil rights violations.
According to the complaint, about a month after Nixon’s Dec. 15, 2014, arrest, he developed a skin infection while incarcerated at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. Although he asked the deputies for medical attention repeatedly, the suit says it was denied until a medical staff member finally provided ointment and bandages. After his release on March 30, 2015, the claim states that Nixon went to Terrebonne General Hospital where he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and a colostomy was performed.
Nixon seeks compensation for civil rights violations and medical expenses. He is represented by New Orleans attorneys Richard J. Richthofen Jr. of Richthofen & Associates LLC and James C. Lawrence Jr., Anthony J. Ibert and Benjamin J. Thomas of J.C. Lawrence and Associates, both of New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-00821