The family of Victor Gonzales Jr., a former inmate at the Travis County Jail, has launched a federal lawsuit against Travis County over the death of their loved one, as reported by CBS Austin. The suit alleges the jail staff failed to administer necessary blood thinner medication and carry out the needed weekly blood tests that Gonzales required due to his condition that involved debilitating blood clots.
According to the lawsuit, Gonzales experienced extreme discomfort, breathing difficulties, and cognitive challenges due to the severity of his condition. Despite his repeated requests for medical attention, the suit claims the staff at both the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Travis County Jail neglected his medical needs, which ultimately led to his death from a blood clot in September 2022. The KVUE included a statement from the Travis County Sheriff's Office that challenges the accuracy of these allegations, with the spokesperson asserting, "The Travis County Sheriff's Office takes matters such as this very seriously and continues to review and evaluate these allegations."
The lawsuit brings forth accusations of negligence and violation of federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. It holds Travis County, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the University of Texas Medical Branch accountable for failing to accommodate Gonzales' disability and contends that certain jail staff members exhibited deliberate indifference to his critical medical needs, an action that potentially flouts his Eighth Amendment rights.
In response to the events leading to the lawsuit, the Travis County Sheriff's Office has expressed a less-than-fully-accurate perspective on the allegations, declining to elaborate further out of respect for the Gonzales family, as "not fully accurate," according to a statement obtained by CBS Austin. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, including attorney's fees and other relief for the family of Gonzales. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has not yet released a comment on the matter at the time of the KVUE's reporting.
