The San Diego Central Jail is currently embroiled in a lawsuit after an inmate, Mauricio Bernal, claimed a metal door severed his thumb while being held in the facility in July 2023. Times of San Diego reports Bernal is suing the county, Sheriff Kelly Martinez, and the deputies involved.
According to legal documents, the incident occurred when Bernal and others were instructed to line up for a pat-down. Bernal asserts he followed orders to stand past a red line, indicating a safe area for inmates. But contrary to safety protocols, a metal door was allegedly shut on his hand by unnamed deputies, resulting in the amputation of Bernal's right thumb and injuring his index finger. In the aftermath, Bernal alleges that not only did he not receive proper medical attention, but deputies also mocked his injury by saying, "It's not so bad," as stated by the NBC 7.
The lawsuit also paints a chilling picture of the treatment that Bernal allegedly received after his injury. He was purportedly forced to work taking out the trash just days after the incident, all while his wound remained exposed and untreated. This claim was echoed in the complaint that alleges deputies continued their insensitive behavior by giving Bernal a thumbs up, further dehumanizing him amid his suffering.
Adding to the gravity of the allegations, Bernal's lawsuit suggests that jail authorities did not amend their practices following the injury. Inmates were purportedly instructed to line up in the same spot where his thumb was severed, past the marked safety line. Furthermore, Bernal's suit alleges that the defendants even used a marker to draw his severed digit on the same door that caused the injury, a detail that intensifies the claim of dehumanizing treatment within the jail. The Sheriff's Department has restrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, as communicated in a statement obtained by both media outlets.
Seeking recompense, Bernal has asked for general and special damages, including compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and potential future lost earning capacity. He is also seeking punitive damages over the allegations of cruel and unusual punishment and excessive force, citing violation of his Eighth and Fourth Amendment rights. The unfolding lawsuit highlights serious concerns about inmate safety and the conduct of law enforcement personnel in correctional facilities.
