Ruth dismisses case against Hertz and Sheriff's Department

Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth has dismissed with prejudice a suit brought against Madison County Sheriff Robert Hertz and his department over psychiatric care that a prisoner claims he was denied.

Ruth entered the order Aug. 12.

Plaintiff Hubert Hill had sought damages in excess of $50,000, a court order mandating he receive proper psychiatric treatment, and an order forbidding Dr. Robert Blankenship, another defendant in the suit, from practicing psychiatry.

Hill claimed that the sheriff's department denied him proper care for his bi-polar disorder deliberately and that Blankenship changed his medications that had kept the illness in check.

Hill also alleged his 14th Amendment rights were violated by the defendants.

Hill represented himself in the case.

He also represented himself in a 2008 law suit against his former attorney Morgan Scroggins.

In that suit, Hill claimed Scroggins refused to talk to him and to aid in his defense.

Heidi Eckert represented the defendants.

The case is Madison case number 11-L-027.