Pubdate: Fri, 22 Nov 2013
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2013 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/general/30627794.html
Website: http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Steve Schultze

FAMILY SUES COUNTY OVER SON'S DEATH FROM DRUG OVERDOSE AT HOUSE OF CORRECTION

The family of a 20-year-old man who died from a drug overdose at the 
Milwaukee County House of Correction in 2007 blames the county and 
its chaotic administration of the lockup at the time, in a lawsuit 
filed in federal court.

Alexander Orlowski died from a methadone overdose, after trading bags 
of chips for the drug from other inmates, the complaint says.

The county and workers at the House of Correction in Franklin failed 
to take any steps to stop the drug trafficking, which was common 
knowledge among inmates, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint, filed Thursday by Orlowski's father, Gary Orlowski, 
seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

The complaint says the county condoned a system in which correctional 
officers were poorly trained and supervised. Employees often "cut 
corners and shirked their duties," the complaint says.

A highly critical report by the National Institute of Corrections 
issued in January 2008 that labeled the House of Correction 
"dysfunctional" is referenced by the complaint to bolster its claims.

A follow-up report by the same author in late 2009 said there had 
been a dramatic turnaround in conditions, following a switch in 
management to Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.

Correctional officers in 2007 "slept at their desks during the night 
shift and became upset when awakened by inmates," according to the 
complaint. Forced overtime and employees often working 12 to 16 hours 
a day because of understaffing contributed to endemic problems at the 
facility, the complaint says.

The complaint names Ronald Malone, who was superintendent at the time 
of Orlowski's death, as well as correctional officers Irby Alexander 
and Anthony Manns as defendants. Malone was fired from that job in 
2009 after Clarke took over management of the lockup.

Orlowski, who had a prior heroin addiction, obtained methadone and 
other prescription drugs from inmates, the complaint says.

"The going rate for a methadone pill...was three bags of chips from 
the commissary," the complaint says.

The inmates were able to squirrel away unswallowed pills because 
nurses at the House of Correction often didn't check to make sure 
they had taken them, the complaint says.

Orlowski showed obvious signs of drug impairment in the days before 
his death, but staff at the House of Correction failed to take 
action, the complaint says.

Alexander, one of the correctional officers named in the lawsuit, 
tried without success to awaken Orlowski on Nov. 22, 2007. Alexander 
told his supervisor, Manns, about Orlowski's condition but Manns and 
Alexander failed to get medical help, the complaint says.

Alexander finally sought help when several inmates told him Orlowski was dead.

Paul Bargren, the county's interim corporation counsel, declined to 
comment on the lawsuit, saying he hadn't seen it yet.

Samuel M. Fitzpatrick, an inmate charged with supplying the methadone 
used by Orlowski, pleaded no contest in 2009. He was sentenced to 18 
months in prison.
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