Suit: Sheriff's deputies left inmate unattended so another inmate could beat him at Cook County Jail

A man who claims he was beaten up by another inmate while incarcerated at Cook County Jail is suing the sheriff and two of his employees.

Fisher J. Hughes Jr. filed a lawsuit Sept. 19 in Cook County Circuit Court against Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, Sgt. Roxanne Boutte and Deputy Delphine Bridges.

According to the complaint, Hughes was an inmate at the Cook County Jail on Oct. 5, 2011, when his hand was slashed by another inmate. He claims the injury was not treated for several months.

Hughes alleges that after an investigation, the sheriff found shanks in the jailhouse, and on Dec. 21, 2011, was removed from the general population to "protective custody," where he was responsible for helping pass out food to inmates and other chores, under the protection of Boutte and Bridges.

The suit states that Hughes observed another inmate hoarding food designated for others and reported it to Bridges who, instead of dealing with the complaint, informed the other inmate, who was known to be a dangerous member of a gang, of Hughes' complaint.

According to Hughes, the defendants left him unattended on Nov. 8, 2012, when the inmate attacked him in retaliation, beating him and causing permanent damage to his tibia. The defendants are accused of negligence, including jail overcrowding, understaffing and a lack of adequate supervision.

Hughes is seeking more than $30,000 in damages and is represented by attorney Ernest T. Rossiello of Ernest T. Rossiello & Associates in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L009807.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. 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.