NEW ORLEANS — A sister of a New Orleans man is suing the sheriff of Orleans Parish, the warden of Orleans Justice Center and a health care provider, citing alleged violations of federal and state constitutional and statutory standards.
Gaynell Tumblin filed a complaint on Feb. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Marlin Gusman, Capt. Chad Ruiz and Correct Care Solutions and J. Does 1-99, alleging that they violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on March 1, 2016, despite suffering from multiple psychological disorders and being a known suicide risk, the plaintiff's brother, Cleveland Tumblin, never received mental health care. On March 7, 2016, he succumbed to injuries received during his hanging. The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly failed in their professional duties and their legal obligations by denying appropriate and necessary medical, psychiatric, nursing and therapeutic care, treatment and supervision for Cleveland Tumblin.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and all other relief as appears just and proper to the court. She is represented by David J. Utter and William R. Claiborne of The Claiborne Firm PC in Savannah, Georgia, and John Adcock of Law Office of John N. Adcock in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:17-cv-01511