BENTON – Negligence of Madison County jailers and nurses ruined the jaw of inmate Clayton Shaffer and distorted his face, according to a suit attorney Jarrod Beasley of Belleville filed at U.S. district court on Aug. 16.
“Plaintiff lacks feeling in his jaw and lower lip,” Beasley wrote. "The left side of plaintiff’s lip still does not work.
"Plaintiff’s face is asymmetrical and his smile is crooked.”
Shaffer allegedly has a scar five inches long on his neck.
He seeks damages from sheriff John Lakin, officers Jody Collman and Jerry Endicott, and officers he identified as Grey and John Doe.
He also seeks damages from nurses Rachelle Braun and Mary Damabacher and their employer Advanced Correctional Health Care.
According to the complaint, East Alton police took Shaffer to jail in 2020. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated arson and aggravated battery after allegedly pouring lighter fluid on his girlfriend and a house and attempting to light her on fire. He later entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and 1 year in the Madison County Jail on Dec. 27, 2021.
While in jail, an inmate allegedly battered him on March 14, 2021, and he told Grey he felt like his jaw was broken.
“Jail personnel did not provide medical treatment,” the suit claims.
Shaffer was allegedly photographed and placed in an interview room.
Braun saw him and notified Damabacher, who ordered X rays, the suit claims.
Shaffer returned to the interview room where he received two Tylenol tablets 35 hours after the battery.
He was taken for X rays 42 hours after the battery, the suit claims.
Braun diagnosed a broken jaw and notified Damabacher, who ordered that Shaffer see a plastic surgeon.
Shaffer was allegedly provided meals of milk and chicken bouillon until March 22, when doctor Patrick Morris saw him at Oral Facial Surgery Institute.
Morris prescribed a soft diet.
In May 2021, at a fourth visit, Morris decided to operate.
In July, John Doe allegedly canceled two appointments for a necessary scan due to transportation conflicts.
In September, Shaffer underwent a bilateral mandible sagittal split osteotomy and surgical splint at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.
Mercy prescribed four to ten days of Tylenol, Motrin, milk of magnesia, oxycodone, and docusate sodium, and four weeks on a liquid diet.
Shaffer allegedly spent two days in a segregation cell that lacked warm water. It also allegedly lacked a bunk. Shaffer claims he slept on a floor infested with ants.
“This cell reeked of feces,” the suit claims.
“Plaintiff was not given medical supplies needed to further his recovery or clean the incision site.”
Shaffer allegedly was given Tylenol 3 twice a day for three days and Tylenol twice a day for seven to nine days.
In October, Shaffer complained to Braun that his gums were inflamed and they smelled like they were infected.
Braun allegedly notified Damabacher who scheduled a visit with Morris.
Officer Endicott canceled the appointment due to a transportation conflict and scheduled it five days later.
When Morris saw Shaffer, he determined the hardware failed and Shaffer had an infection. Morris prescribed antibiotics and scheduled a second surgery.
Shaffer underwent surgery last Nov. 10, and Mercy personnel returned him to custody.
Hospital personnel allegedly strenuously expressed to Endicott and Collman the pain level and the importance of medication.
“Yet plaintiff was not given his prescribed medications and was not given medications at the prescribed intervals,” the suit claims.
In jail at 11 p.m., Shaffer complained of pain and personnel gave him a bag of ice, the suit claims.
A day later Braun said he would be given Tylenol 3 twice a day.
A day later Shaffer allegedly told her the left side of his lower lip didn’t work.
According to attorney Beasley, actions of defendants constituted willful and wanton neglect and reckless disregard for Shaffer’s well being.
The suit claims that Endicott, Collan, Grey and officer John Doe refused treatment in an effort to punish Shaffer.
Beasley practices at Kuehn, Beasley and Young.
The court clerk randomly assigned District Judge Staci Yandle.