Man sues Cook County Jail, others over alleged fall from bunk bed

The Cook County sheriff others are facing a lawsuit from a man who claims he suffered brain injury after falling while in the jail's alcohol rehabilitation program.

Michael Houlihan filed a handwritten lawsuit May 16 in the Cook County Circuit Court against the Cook County Sheriff, Cook County Jail, Cermak Health Services and unnamed parties.

According to the suit, Houlihan voluntarily entered the Cook County Jail's alcohol rehab program in May 2013. He claims had severe back problems that made it difficult for him to get up on the top bunk he was assigned to and a guard refused his request to be moved to the bottom bunk.

Houlihan alleges that when he tried to get in his bed one evening, he slipped and hit his head on the metal bunk bed next to his, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that caused dizziness, headaches, blurred vision and memory loss.

He is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and representing himself.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005276.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.