Terrance Dwayne Winborn's Nightmare: Minnesota County Settles Man $12.2 million After Jail Inaction Leads to Hand Amputation

A Minnesota county has agreed to a substantial $12.2 million settlement in a case involving a man who was initially arrested on suspicion of drunk driving but suffered devastating consequences during his time in custody. 

Terrance Dwayne Winborn's ordeal resulted in the loss of both his hands, a heart attack, stroke, and severe skin lesions. These grave conditions were allegedly a consequence of the inaction of officials at the county jail, according to statements made by attorneys on Wednesday.

Winborn endured approximately four months of hospitalization, including a harrowing two months on a ventilator, due to the failure of Scott County jail officials to ensure he received the prompt medical treatment he urgently needed. 

This case underscores the vulnerability of incarcerated individuals who depend on authorities for their healthcare.

The settlement reached will cover the substantial medical expenses that Winborn has already incurred, exceeding $2 million, which the county had not previously covered. Additionally, it will provide for the ongoing care costs that will run into the millions. The settlement will be funded by the county's insurance plan.

Attorney Katie Bennett emphasized that the apparent deliberate indifference to Winborn's medical needs allowed a severe bacterial infection to spread unchecked within his body, leading to a heart attack and a range of other permanent and devastating injuries.

Jason Hiveley, an outside lawyer representing Scott County, confirmed the settlement in a brief statement. The agreement entails the dismissal of Winborn's lawsuit and releases the county from further claims. The statement, however, did not explicitly address whether the county admitted wrongdoing.

During the news conference, Winborn's attorneys played a video illustrating his struggles in adapting to life without hands, including the difficulties of feeding himself. Winborn expressed his yearning for his lost hands, stating that he would rather have them than anything else.

The unfortunate sequence of events began when Winborn, hailing from Marshall, Minnesota, was arrested in Shakopee, a Minneapolis suburb, on the early hours of August 27, 2020. At the jail, his blood alcohol content measured 0.13%, surpassing the legal limit of 0.08%. Later that morning, as his blood alcohol content returned to zero, he began experiencing severe vomiting.

The complaint reveals that when a jail nurse conducted a COVID-19 check that morning, Winborn was unable to stand, and his right hand was notably swollen. Despite these concerning signs, the nurse did not seek emergency care during this visit. On a subsequent visit around midday, the nurse still did not take immediate action to secure medical attention, even though she was unable to measure his blood oxygen level.

Winborn's condition deteriorated significantly, and it was only in the evening of August 28 that a corrections officer finally transported him to a Shakopee hospital. However, by that point, his condition had worsened considerably.

Concerned personnel at the suburban hospital arranged for an ambulance transfer to a larger hospital in Minneapolis. There, Winborn was placed in intensive care. Tragically, doctors had to amputate his hand and part of his forearm just two days later due to the development of necrotizing fasciitis, a severe condition commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria.

This rare condition involves the unchecked spread of bacteria through tissue, often necessitating surgical removal of affected areas to save the patient's life.

By the time Winborn was transferred to a nursing home in November, his weight had plummeted from 180 pounds to a mere 126 pounds, underscoring the extent of his suffering. Another infection subsequently led doctors to amputate his left arm below the elbow in December.

The complaint also highlights that jail videos, which could have been crucial evidence, were destroyed after 90 days due to the failure of officials to preserve them, despite their knowledge of the severity of Winborn's injuries and the potential for litigation.

Jason Hiveley, the attorney representing Scott County, expressed hope that the resolution of this matter would facilitate Winborn's access to the necessary medical care and improve his quality of life.

 

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