News Sentinel staff
CLINTON, Tenn. — A man about to be released from jail last year on misdemeanor driving violations suffered permanent damage to his vision when he was severely beaten by one or more inmates, a lawsuit alleges.
Kenneth E. King of Anderson County sustained a broken jaw, nose, sinus cavity and a blowout fracture to the “orbit floor of his right eye,” the complaint alleges.
King underwent surgery to repair the orbital fracture, it continues. Along with harm to his vision, he sustained other injuries, including “severe emotional and psychological damage,” the legal action avers.
The assault occurred Oct. 28, 2009, after King appeared in Sessions Court and was ordered released from jail, according to the lawsuit, filed recently in Anderson County Circuit Court.
There were at least six other detainees in the holding cell at the time as King awaited his freedom, the complaint states.
The lawsuit, which names Anderson County as the defendant, alleges that deputies and jail employees were negligent or “acted with deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm” to King.
The complaint alleges that King’s constitutional rights were violated and seeks a $500,000 judgment.
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