ACLU-EM’s John Doe v. the City of St. Louis Suit Dismissed Pursuant to a Settlement

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ST. LOUIS, MO — The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri’s civil suit against the city of St. Louis and Correctional Medical Services, the medical provider for the city jails that is now known as Corizon, was dismissed today. Originally filed in 2010 on behalf of an HIV-positive inmate at the Medium Security Institute in St. Louis, the ACLU-EM’s lawsuit cited life-threatening deliberate indifference to a serious medical condition.

The inmate, known as John Doe to protect his privacy, was incarcerated in early 2010 and for the first 20 days of his stay was denied the life-saving medication for which he had a daily prescription. During that period he was given only Tylenol, despite repeated attempts by him, a friend and his doctor to re-establish his prescribed medical regime.

“No one awaiting trial should ever be denied medical care,” says Brenda L. Jones, executive director of the ACLU-EM. “But, this case was especially egregious because people who are HIV-positive can quickly build resistance to medications that are not taken consistently.”

Tony Rothert, the ACLU-EM’s legal director, said “This gross violation of our client’s constitutional rights caused him suffering, mental and emotional distress, and great fear of physical harm. Even worse is the gross incompetence displayed by Corizon, the company that also provides medical services to the state of Missouri’s prisons.”

The case was dismissed as part of a settlement agreement. A condition of the settlement prevents the disclosure of the amount of settlement funds paid to Doe.

The ACLU-EM is a non-partisan, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of civil liberties in eastern Missouri. Located in St. Louis, the ACLU-EM is an affiliate of the national ACLU.