6 ms·

I'm terribly sorry this happened to you. For what it's worth you can sue, and you can get money for your trouble and maybe even cause the police department to

I'm terribly sorry this happened to you. For what it's worth you can sue, and you can get money for your trouble and maybe even cause the police department to change it's policies. I did it back in 2000 with the MPD, it took almost 8 years in the courts but eventually I got justice. If you roll over, the bad cops will just keep doing what they do. You'd be surprised at all the law firms that will take your case for free.

thret 13y ago
8 years? And what happened to the actual individual police who messed with you?
downandout 13y ago
In my experience there aren't many cases against government entities that attorneys will take on contingency. A friend of mine was held for nearly 2 years without bail because he was deemed a flight risk (the white collar charges he faced were eventually dropped). He spent most of that time experiencing violent and painful vomiting attacks. He was told he had an ulcer and was given ulcer medication that had no effect on the attacks. Upon his release, he immediately went to an ER where he was told he had developed gallstones and that it had gone on so long that it was affecting his other organs. His pancreas was on the verge of shutting down. He was told that it was good that he came in when he did, as he would have been dead in another month or so. It was eventually revealed that the gallstones diagnosis had been made by the jail doctor approximately 16 months before his release, and that he had recommended a surgery be scheduled. That never happened and he was never told about the diagnosis. At one point during his incarceration, his attorney requested bail based on the jail's inability to properly diagnose/treat the problem. The prosecutor mocked the request in open court, saying he "had stomach pains sometimes too" and the judge denied the renewed bail request because jail staffers insisted that they were doing everything medically reasonable. I helped him contact probably 50 attorneys. Not a single one would take the case on contingency, mainly because there was no permanent injury or death that had occurred. The government got away with nearly killing my friend while he was being held without bond on charges that were ultimately dismissed.
- qwerta 13y ago
  That is horrible! It sounds like story from Kazachstan or Africa. I hope your friend is better now.
  - downandout 13y ago
    He is, this occurred over 10 years ago.
  - jtimberlake 13y ago
    Or something that would happen in the Czech Republic or Greece
    - qwerta 13y ago
      I am not saying it could not happen in EU or post-soviet country, but I find it unlikely. Neglect is criminal offense here, he was diagnosed by doctor so there was paper trail. Also approach to medical care is totally different. And maximal imprisonment without conviction here is 1 year. Not so popular ex-politician was held for 18 months on corruption charges and it was national scandal.
      - downandout 13y ago
        Sadly, in our "free" country you are held until the charges are resolved if you are denied bail or don't have enough to post it. He told me someone he was there with had been in for over 8 years fighting his case, and he still hadn't gone to trial. The defendant does have to agree to such extensions, but given that essentially every crime on our books carries penalties up to 30 years, it's not hard to see why people postpone them while preparing a defense.
        qwerta 13y ago
        I just looked up criminal law in Czech rep. Maximal length depends on maximal length of sentence: * normal crime (under 4 years) such as less violent robbery, bar fight... 1 year * violent crime with death or permanent injury (around 8 years sentence) 2 years * 4 years in exceptional violent cases (over 15 years or life-time sentence). There is also condition that trial must start within first 1/3 of time period.

thret 13y ago

8 years? And what happened to the actual individual police who messed with you?

downandout 13y ago

In my experience there aren't many cases against government entities that attorneys will take on contingency. A friend of mine was held for nearly 2 years without bail because he was deemed a flight risk (the white collar charges he faced were eventually dropped). He spent most of that time experiencing violent and painful vomiting attacks. He was told he had an ulcer and was given ulcer medication that had no effect on the attacks. Upon his release, he immediately went to an ER where he was told he had developed gallstones and that it had gone on so long that it was affecting his other organs. His pancreas was on the verge of shutting down. He was told that it was good that he came in when he did, as he would have been dead in another month or so. It was eventually revealed that the gallstones diagnosis had been made by the jail doctor approximately 16 months before his release, and that he had recommended a surgery be scheduled. That never happened and he was never told about the diagnosis. At one point during his incarceration, his attorney requested bail based on the jail's inability to properly diagnose/treat the problem. The prosecutor mocked the request in open court, saying he "had stomach pains sometimes too" and the judge denied the renewed bail request because jail staffers insisted that they were doing everything medically reasonable. I helped him contact probably 50 attorneys. Not a single one would take the case on contingency, mainly because there was no permanent injury or death that had occurred. The government got away with nearly killing my friend while he was being held without bond on charges that were ultimately dismissed.

qwerta 13y ago
That is horrible! It sounds like story from Kazachstan or Africa. I hope your friend is better now.
- downandout 13y ago
  He is, this occurred over 10 years ago.
- jtimberlake 13y ago
  Or something that would happen in the Czech Republic or Greece
  - qwerta 13y ago
    I am not saying it could not happen in EU or post-soviet country, but I find it unlikely. Neglect is criminal offense here, he was diagnosed by doctor so there was paper trail. Also approach to medical care is totally different. And maximal imprisonment without conviction here is 1 year. Not so popular ex-politician was held for 18 months on corruption charges and it was national scandal.
    - downandout 13y ago
      Sadly, in our "free" country you are held until the charges are resolved if you are denied bail or don't have enough to post it. He told me someone he was there with had been in for over 8 years fighting his case, and he still hadn't gone to trial. The defendant does have to agree to such extensions, but given that essentially every crime on our books carries penalties up to 30 years, it's not hard to see why people postpone them while preparing a defense.
      - qwerta 13y ago
        I just looked up criminal law in Czech rep. Maximal length depends on maximal length of sentence: * normal crime (under 4 years) such as less violent robbery, bar fight... 1 year * violent crime with death or permanent injury (around 8 years sentence) 2 years * 4 years in exceptional violent cases (over 15 years or life-time sentence). There is also condition that trial must start within first 1/3 of time period.