Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Wayne County Sheriff’s Department in Jailhouse Death of Thomas Carr

Background

On July 13, 2023, Thomas Carr was serving the first day of a 26-day sentence in the Wayne County Jail for a non-violent misdemeanor, operating while intoxicated (OWI), that occurred in Southgate, Michigan, in April 2023. He was placed in a Wayne County Jail cell with Claude Lewis III, who was awaiting charges on domestic violence and had previous violent convictions and hospitalizations for schizophrenia – historical information that was available to the Wayne County Jail through Michigan State’s Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN).  Within 24 hours of his arrival, Carr was severely beaten by Lewis. He died at Detroit Receiving Hospital on July 20. Records show that a guard failed to perform a standard check of the floor where Lewis and Carr were being held. Further, had Lewis been placed on a mental health floor, he would have been in a solo cell, with more stringent requirements for monitoring.  

Lewis entered the Wayne County Jail on July 12 on charges of misdemeanor domestic violence following a 911 call from his girlfriend. Earlier that day and following his girlfriend’s 911 call, Lewis himself made a 911 call, telling the operator he needed in-patient mental health housing and treatment, rather than jail, for his diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  

Legal Action:

In the lawsuit, Colella asserts the Wayne County Jail was deliberately indifferent to its duty to provide for Carr’s safety and welfare.

“The Wayne County Jail ignored all indications, warnings and previous altercations that Lewis was a danger to himself and others, resulting in Carr’s brutal beating and death,” Colella said.

Colella added that within 30 minutes of his filing of the complaint on November 30, Wayne County, which had ignored several of his FOIA requests since July, sent a scant report with no details of the incident – a report Colella questions is in compliance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

“Given the pattern of tragic, unnecessary loss of life in our local correctional facilities, Wayne County should show leadership and publicly commit to monitoring and enforcing established safety protocols. Instead, there are stall tactics and the withholding of any meaningful information,” Colella said.

About Moss & Colella

Celebrating more than 25 years, Moss & Colella represents the victims of personal injury, civil rights violations, discrimination, medical malpractice and wrongful death.  The firm is recognized as a leader in complex tort litigation, including excess and deadly force, jail death, sexual abuse and harassment, auto and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and other severe injury and wrongful death claims. To learn more about the firm and its diverse areas of practice, visit www.mosscolella.com.