Lawsuit Alleges Dallas Jail Conditions Put Officers at Risk of Contracting COVID-19

A Dallas jail employee recently filed a class action lawsuit against the county sheriff, saying social distancing hasn’t been possible for him and other workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Plaintiff Emanuel Lewis says he works as a detention service officer (DSO) – a “jailer” – in the Suzanne Lee Kays Detention Facility of the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas County, Texas.

Unfortunately, according to Lewis’ recent class action lawsuit, he and other workers have been prohibited from social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak – putting themselves and others at risk, according to NBCDFW.

Lewis says Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown “allows conditions to exist at the jail that promote the spread of COVID-19, are a public health nuisance, are unsafe, and excessively endanger the health and lives of the Detention Service Officers, their families and their communities.”

As a detention service officer, Lewis reportedly works with an inmate population that can reach more than 7,000 individuals.

During the course of their job, officers reportedly come in close contact with inmates – nearly 700 of which have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Unfortunately, due to their job requirements, Lewis and other officers have allegedly been prohibited from social distancing.

According to Lewis, this means they are at a high risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

Instead of implementing social distancing amongst officers and inmates, the jail has allegedly packed inmate pods to capacity.

Lewis also says there is a lack of personal protective equipment – including masks — available to officers and inmates.

As a result, the spread of COVID-19 is reportedly even more of an issue within the jail. This is allegedly compounded by the fact that the jail is overcrowded and lacks a ventilation system that could help filter airflow at the jail.

“By allowing these circumstances to exist during an ever-worsening pandemic, the Sheriff exposes DSOs, some of whom are medically vulnerable, and their families and communities, as well as other workers who have contact with inmates and DSOs at the jail, without any testing, to the threat of severe illness and death,” the coronavirus class action lawsuit contends.

However, despite the obvious risks of COVID-19 infection, detention service officers are allegedly not provided with testing as a part of their job.

In fact, the sheriff and county have reportedly failed to disclose the number of officers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, although Lewis estimates this number to be in the dozens or hundreds.

Due to a lack of resources, Lewis argues that he and other officers are unable to be promptly diagnosed with COVID-19. They may be asymptomatic, the class action notes, meaning the disease could be further spread between officers, inmates and family members.

Even if officers manage to be promptly diagnosed with COVID-19, they are allegedly being denied benefits that would make the experience easier.

For example, officers are allegedly forced to use their sick time, take time off without pay or even return to work without quarantining.

“[M]any of the [detention service officers] who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 using other testing resources have suffered multiple hardships — they have gotten sick, sometimes seriously and sometimes infecting family members, but then have had their worker’s compensation insurance claims denied,” Lewis adds in his social distancing class action lawsuit.

“Indeed, one Dallas County human resources representative recently proudly declared that he was denying 99.9% of coronavirus worker’s compensation claims.”

Due to the lack of social distancing and other forms of support during the coronavirus outbreak, Lewis’ class action deems the jail conditions to be “unsafe.”

Lewis seeks to represent a Class of detention service officers working at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center who have not yet been diagnosed with COVID-19. Several hundred Class Members could be included under this proposed definition.

The plaintiff argues that, though all DSOs are in need to relief and better precautions, the proposed Class is particularly vulnerable because they may face the future injury of being infected with the coronavirus.

As such, Lewis seeks injunctive relief requiring safer conditions and social distancing at the jail during the coronavirus pandemic.

Have you been social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak? Have you been unable to social distance due to your job or other factors? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

Lewis and the proposed Class are represented by John C. Eichman of The Eichman Firm PLLC and Ronald Manthey of Ronald Manthey PLLC.

The Dallas Jail Social Distancing Class Action Lawsuit is Emanuel Lewis v. Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown, Case No. DC-20-11810, in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas.

Coronavirus Lawsuits & Legal Issues

Since the COVID pandemic shut down the country, Top Class Actions has been keeping you up to date on the latest Coronavirus lawsuits and legal issues. 

Coronavirus Complete Lawsuit Guide

Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:

Walmart Shoppers Want COVID-19 Disability Class Action Certified

New York Federal Judge Strikes Down COVID-19 Paid Leave Restrictions

Car Dealership TCPA Violations: Text Message Spam, Robocalls, Cell Phone Calls & Prerecorded Messages

Exxon and PBF Energy Reach $4.4M California Wage and Hour Settlement