A former inmate at the St. Clair County jail filed suit in U.S. District Court Nov. 8, claiming the medical staff laughed at him when he cried in pain after being bit by a spider.
Lee Andrew Paige, Jr., now serving seven years in a state prison for burglary, claims while at the St. Clair County Jail he was bitten by a "vicious spider" while in the infirmary.
Paige claims that while he was in the infirmary, he wrote jail superintendent T.J. Collins about the safety of the infirmary because at least two other inmates also were allegedly bitten by spiders.
"I complained how the ceiling and the shower needed some maintenance but got no answer," Paige wrote in his handwritten complaint.
He also claims when three members of the medical staff touched the bump from the spider bite he was in pain and was refused medication.
"I asks (sic) three or four times for them to give me something for the pain and hurting," Paige wrote.
"They all started to laugh at me and said at lease (sic) we know he is human," Paige added.
Paige claims he was finally given two pain pills but they did nothing, so he then asked for more.
"I asks (sic) and begged for something more than the two pills given," Paige wrote. "I had tears in my eyes."
He claims the doctor told him he would be all right, but claims the doctor could have easily given him something more for the pain.
"I was praying to God that the doctors and nurses would understand my pain when they came back the second time," Paige wrote.
Paige claims for he was in his cell for 12 days crying and suffering from the pain from the spider bite.
Paige is seeking damages in excess of $200,000. The case has been assigned to District Judge David Herndon.
Inmate claims pain from spider bite
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