Death of Elliott Williams


Elliott Earl Williams (born 1974) was a US Army veteran who died in the Tulsa County, Oklahoma jail on October 27, 2011. The Medical Examiner determined that Williams died from "complications of vertebrospinal injuries due to blunt force trauma" and dehydration.[1] Special Administrator Robbie Emery Burke, representing the Estate of Mr. Williams, filed a lawsuit on April 16, 2012, against Sheriff Stanley Glanz, Correctional Healthcare Management of Oklahoma, Inc., et al.[2][3] The Claims for Relief pertain to Cruel and Unusual Punishment in Violation of the Eighth Amendment and/or the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; and Wrongful Death.

Elliot E. Williams
Born 1974
Died October 27, 2011(2011-10-27) (aged 36–37)
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Cause of death Complications of vertebrospinal injuries due to blunt force trauma
Nationality American
Spouse(s) Elia Patricia Lara-Williams
Parent(s)
  • Earl Williams
  • Katha Williams
Relatives
  • Kevin Williams
BURKE v. GLANZ
United States District Court for Northern District of Oklahoma
Judge sitting Judge John Dowdell
Defendant(s) Stanley Glanz, Correctional Healthcare Management of Oklahoma, et al
Keywords
Wrongful Death, negligence

Jailing

Mr. Williams was arrested by Owasso police in the lobby of a Marriott hotel for misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer.[4][5]

While Williams was in his cell, incapacitated, food and water were brought to him but he was unable to reach them; jail officials taunted him and accused him of faking his injuries.[6]

Aftermath

In December 2011, Mr. Earl and Mrs. Katha Williams, the parents of the deceased, sued the city of Owasso for records related to the arrest of their son;[7] the suit was predicated on a violation of Oklahoma's Open Records Act. Ms. Elia Lara-Williams, wife of the late Mr. Williams, filed suit against Sheriff Stanley Glanz and the medical staff of the Tulsa County jail.

Civil Lawsuit

In July 2016, U.S. District Judge John Dowdell ruled that a federal civil rights lawsuit against former Sheriff Stanley Glanz and Tulsa County officials could proceed.[8] In February 2017, defense attorneys for Sheriff Vic Regalado and Mr. Glanz filed a motion accusing Judge Dowell of failing to disclose a conflict of interest,[9] which Judge Dowell subsequently denied.[10]

In March 2017, Judge Dowell ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, requiring Tulsa County and former Sheriff Stanley Glanz to pay $10.2 million and $250,000, respectively, to the Estate of Mr. Elliott Williams.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BURKE v. GLANZ". LEAGLE. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  2. ↑ Lowry, Lacie. "Lawsuit Filed Against Tulsa Sheriff, Jail For Cruel And Unusual Punishment". Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  3. ↑ Lowry, Lacie. "Lawsuit Filed Against Tulsa Jail Claims Negligence, Wrongful Death". Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  4. ↑ Victor, Daniel (2017-03-22). "Jury Awards Millions in Case of Man Left to Die of Broken Neck in Oklahoma Jail". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  5. ↑ Writer, KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff. "Man's parents sue Owasso for records". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  6. ↑ Briquelet, Kate (April 19, 2016). "Cops Taunted Black Veteran as He Died". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  7. ↑ Writer, KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff. "Man's parents sue Owasso for records". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  8. ↑ Branstetter, Ziva (July 21, 2016). "Judge's order: Elliott Williams' jail cell became 'burial crypt'". The Frontier. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  9. ↑ World, Kyle Hinchey Tulsa. "Defense attorneys in case against Regalado, Glanz seek federal judge's recusal". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  10. ↑ World, Kyle Hinchey Tulsa. "Elliott Williams' jail death lawsuit: Judge won't recuse; trial set to start next week". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  11. ↑ "County, former sheriff lose wrongful death lawsuit | Tulsa's 24-Hour News, Weather and Traffic". KRMG Radio. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
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