ST PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota woman is seeking upwards of $10 million from Ramsey County, claiming jail employees caused her "catastrophic injuries" and refused her medical treatment while in custody.
A lawsuit filed in District Court on Sept. 15 alleges at least seven correctional officers engaged in "unconstitutional use of force" against Miri Mozuch-Stafford, causing severe injuries to her left leg. The lawsuit further alleges a doctor employed by Ramsey County was aware of the severity of Mozuch-Stafford's injuries but did not seek adequate treatment on her behalf.
Court documents reveal the events leading to Mozuch-Stafford's injuries began early on Feb. 8, 2021. According to the lawsuit, Mozuch-Stafford was arrested by Saint Paul police at a local hotel where she was accused of disorderly conduct. Mozuch-Stafford was then taken to the Ramsey County Jail, where records suggest she was "cooperative, not ill or injured, did not report any immediate medical concerns and walked with a normal gait at the time of her admission and booking."
The lawsuit goes on to say as she was brought to a holding cell, she engaged in a verbal exchange with jail officers, which resulted in a "disorganized and unreasonable takedown maneuver" while Mozuch-Stafford remained handcuffed. It was then, Mozuch-Stafford would later find out, she suffered a fractured left leg and a severed artery.
Mozuch-Stafford alleges the defendants then shackled her legs, despite being aware of her pain and injuries. The lawsuit says she was then left alone in her cell, hands and feet bound, until another jail employee briefly entered to evaluate her for "foot pain." Still, the lawsuit alleges, Mozuch-Stafford did not receive medical treatment.
About an hour later, documents say officers entered Mozuch-Stafford's cell and removed her handcuffs and leg shackles. But it wasn't until more than six hours after the removal of the restraints that a jail doctor examined Mozuch-Stafford's injuries. In a medical note, the doctor wrote Mozuch-Stafford exhibited swelling in her leg and was in severe pain, while indicating it was apparent Mozuch-Stafford would need immediate medical attention. The lawsuit alleges that despite the staff's knowledge of the extent of Mozuch-Stafford's injuries, it wasn't until another nine hours later that she was transferred to the hospital to receive medical attention.
According to the lawsuit, Mozuch-Stafford underwent "multiple invasive orthopedic, vascular, and skin graft surgeries," and her left leg was left "severely and permanently disfigured."
The lawsuit says Mozuch-Stafford is seeking compensation for damages as a result of her injuries, including "pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, loss of employment of life and disfigurement, in amounts reasonably believed to exceed $10 million."
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