$33 million awarded to family of man who died in Ottawa County Jail

$33 million in damages has been awarded to the estate of a man that died in the Ottawa County Jail in October 2015.

The federal civil jury ruled that proper medical care was not provided to 26-year-old Terral Brooks Ellis Junior, which violated his constitutional rights.

Ellis died of sepsis and pneumonia at a Miami hospital, not too long after he was found unconscious in his cell.

A federal negligence and wrongful death lawsuit was filed in 2017 against Ottawa county, its sheriff, former sheriff, jailers, nurse and others.

Ellis' health deteriorated over his week and a half stay in jail after he surrendered to authorities on a DUI warrant.

It alleged that Ellis was allowed to die despite repeated pleas for help that were captured on jail videotape.

The Ellis family released the following statement:

"The Ellis family is pleased with, and humbled by the jury’s verdict. The family waited years for their day in court. Terral Ellis was essentially tortured to death while housed in the Ottawa County Jail. With a modicum of humane treatment, his suffering and death were eminently preventable. The family is hopeful that the trial and $33 million verdict will spark long overdue reforms of the broken healthcare delivery systems in our county jails. Funds recovered by the Estate will be used to care for Terral’s son, who was just four years old when Terral tragically died."

“Help,” a voice identified as Ellis’ is heard repeating numerous times on the video. “Somebody help.”

Other voices, including those of former jailer Charles Shoemaker and former nurse Theresa Horn, were identified through depositions with them, Smolen said.

“We’re not calling the ER,” Shoemaker said at one point. “We did that the other day.”

Ellis is later heard telling Horn that his back was broken.

“Listen to me and shut up,” Horn said. “We had EMS come over and check you out and there ain’t a damn thing, nothing wrong with you, you understand me?”

Horn testified on Friday. The trial lasted eight days.

“It’s a horrific, horrific death,” Smolen said. “It’s jarring.

This video below shows surveillance footage from the actions in question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roXgWanukVY