A harrowing lawsuit has been filed, shedding light on the tragic death of an inmate due to alleged negligence and indifference by prison officials and healthcare providers. The complaint was lodged by Chunece Jones-Broadway, representing the estate of Michael Broadway, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 14, 2024. The defendants include the Illinois Department of Corrections and Wexford Health Sources, Inc., among others.
The case centers around Michael Broadway, a beloved family man and aspiring author who died while incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center during a severe heatwave. The lawsuit claims that Broadway's death was preventable and resulted from deliberate indifference by prison staff and medical personnel to his severe asthma condition amidst oppressive heat conditions. According to the complaint, despite being aware of the dangerously high temperatures in the facility, particularly on the top floors where Broadway was housed, officials took no action to alleviate these conditions or provide necessary medical care when he began experiencing respiratory distress.
Broadway had reportedly requested to be moved to a lower floor due to his asthma but was denied. On June 19, 2024, as temperatures soared near 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside—and even higher inside—Broadway struggled for breath in his cell. Despite desperate pleas for help from fellow inmates and clear signs of respiratory distress observed by correctional officers like Patrick Gagliardo and others, no immediate medical intervention was provided. Instead of promptly calling for emergency assistance or providing life-saving equipment such as an Ambu bag or oxygen, staff delayed response times significantly.
The complaint accuses individuals including Charles Truitt (warden), Jermiagh Daly (chief engineer), Britney Harvey (correctional lieutenant), and several correctional officers and nurses of failing to intervene effectively during Broadway’s critical health crisis. It alleges violations under federal law including deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment, failure to intervene, conspiracy against rights protected by U.S.C §1983, as well as breaches under state laws concerning wrongful death and survival actions.
Plaintiff Chunece Jones-Broadway seeks compensatory damages for emotional distress suffered by Michael prior to his death alongside punitive damages against those responsible for neglecting their duty of care towards him while incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center—a facility known for its deteriorating infrastructure yet still housing prisoners despite announced plans for closure due imminent safety risks earlier this year.
Representing Jones-Broadway are attorneys Terah Tollner along with Sarah Grady from Kaplan & Grady LLC based out Chicago; presiding over proceedings is Judge Andrea R Wood assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-11700.