Edgar Co. (ECWd) –
Most in Edgar County know the history of the Edgar County Jail and its living conditions. From the days of Karl Farnham being the Sheriff and being sued for its condition to today, the lawsuits continue.
According to the Federal Government, since 1994 there have been 14 Federally filed lawsuits against Edgar County and most of them tied to matters in the Sheriff’s office. I suspect we would find this number to be off the charts high if compared to other counties in Illinois of similar size. A quick review confirmed that suspicion. Federal records reflect only three cases ever filed in Clark County with their first one in 1997. Seven in Crawford County with their first one in 1991. Does this small comparison point to failed leadership in Edgar County? Leadership, or lack of, continues to cost the taxpayers each and every time a suit is filed for a jail that they all know is deplorable and continues to subject us to lawsuits.
How many in Edgar County knew that Sheriff Wood and others in the county were being sued once again? I don’t recall the local paper ever covering that but may have missed their report. This suit is on the jail conditions after a prisoner was injured stepping out of the shower.
Most should remember all former Sherif Motley tried to do to fix the jail condition problems, but unfortunately, the County Board did little to nothing in order to fund the fixes needed for this problem.
Ironically, this lawsuit names former Sheriff Motley even though he was not the Sheriff when the injury took place. You can read the complaint filed below.
May we suggest the citizens start thinking about who they vote for in the future? As in, vote for people that are going to fix this kind of problem so we can reduce the historic lawsuit volume that continues to cost us all.
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Edgar-County-Sheriff-being-suied.pdf”]
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6 Comments
homer
Posted at 04:32h, 04 Octoberplease update the status of this lawsuit I think it was dropped by the plaintiff
homer
Posted at 18:20h, 11 October7 days no update
jmkraft
Posted at 06:52h, 12 Octoberone day since the “newspaper” reported on the exact same lawsuit…where the SA said they are all still active…what else would we update?
Kirk Allen
Posted at 13:42h, 12 Octoberhomer, when the COURT provides a change in the status of the case, which they have not yet, then there will be an update.
Rob
Posted at 16:00h, 22 SeptemberOr don’t break the law, don’t go to jail, don’t get hurt in said jail
Jerry
Posted at 12:06h, 27 September“Ditto” Rob
Couldn’t agree more.