Minnesota County Pays $12.2 Million in Shocking Prisoner Negligence Case: Man Loses Both Hands and Suffers Heart Attack, Stroke, and Skin Lesions

 In a shocking case that highlights the vulnerability of prisoners who rely on authorities for medical care, a Minnesota county has agreed to pay a $12.2 million settlement to Terrance Dwayne Winborn, a man who lost both his hands and suffered a heart attack, stroke, and skin lesions while in county jail on suspicion of drunken driving. The settlement will cover Winborn's extensive medical bills, which have already surpassed $2 million, as well as the ongoing care he will need.

Winborn spent approximately four months in hospitals, including two months on a ventilator, due to the alleged inaction of Scott County jail officials in providing him with the necessary medical treatment. His lawyers argue that the officials' deliberate indifference allowed a bacterial infection to spread throughout his body, leading to various devastating and permanent injuries. Video footage shown during the case revealed Winborn's struggles in adapting to life without hands, including difficulties in feeding himself.

The lawsuit, filed by Winborn last year, stated that after his arrest in August 2020, he began vomiting and was unable to stand up when a jail nurse performed a COVID-19 check. Despite noting his deteriorating condition, the nurse did not seek emergency care. It wasn't until the evening of August 28 that a corrections officer finally drove Winborn to a hospital when his condition worsened. He was subsequently transferred to a bigger hospital, where doctors were forced to amputate his hand and part of his forearm due to necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria.

The lawsuit also revealed that jail videos, which could have provided crucial evidence, were destroyed after 90 days because officials failed to take necessary action to preserve them. While the county's outside lawyer, Jason Hiveley, did not explicitly state whether the county accepts wrongdoing, he affirmed that the settlement was made in exchange for the dismissal of Winborn's lawsuit and the release of his claims.

As news of the settlement broke, investors remained focused on other economic indicators. Initial jobless claims for the week increased to 207,000, slightly below the forecasted 210,000. Additionally, August's trade deficit shrank to $58.3 billion, with declining imports signaling potential weakness in consumer spending. These figures provide valuable insights into the country's economic landscape ahead of the highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report.