The law firm of Friedman & Gilbert on Thursday announced a class-action lawsuit against the county over conditions inside the Cuyahoga County Jail.
The firm held a news conference Thursday at 1 p.m. to provide more details.
The suit, filed against the county, County Executive Armond Budish, Sheriff Clifford Pinkney and other officials, alleges constitutional rights violations and seeks judicial intervention and independent oversight of the jail, which received a scathing review following inspection by U.S. Marshals.
In addition to six inmate deaths within a four-month span, whistleblowers alerted to deplorable and inhumane conditions inside the jail.
"55 incidents of suicide attempts occurred in the past year alone," said Cleveland attorney Terry Gilbert in a press conference Thursday afternoon. "This is a time bomb ready to explode."
The finding of the latest report included pregnant inmates sleeping on mats, juveniles housed with adults, food stored near animal droppings and some inmates confined to a single cell for 27 straight hours.
Leo Kesman, who spent 90 days at the jail after he was unable to post bond for a domestic violence charge, spoke at the press conference of his personal experience.
"I battled with suicidal thoughts, everyday," said Kesman.
Kesman said he was repeatedly denied his court-ordered medication.
"I went on hunger strikes and did everything I could to get the help I needed," said Kesman. "They just flat out refused my mental health treatment."
It’s a concern that was brought up by a former nursing supervisor who spoke to WKYC this year about a nursing shortage at the jail.
Cuyahoga County’s Public Safety & Justice Affairs Committee grilled jail leaders during a council meeting earlier this month, demanding answers on how conditions became so poor.
Jail director Ken Mills abruptly resigned in November just days before U.S. Marshals released their findings.
Pinkney said jail leaders have increased training, sped up hiring practices to make up for shortfalls in staff, and reached out to other cities for their best practices.