The family of 37-year-old Nickolas Norberg has filed a lawsuit against Stearns County jail and the jail’s health care provider, CentraCare, alleging that medical providers and jail staff failed to properly assess and treat Norberg and ignored his pleas for help following his arrest on October 16, 2022 (Norberg was arrested for reportedly huffing inhalants in the restroom of a Walmart store. Police reportedly used a Taser on Norberg multiple times while trying to arrest him.)
Norberg was taken to St. Cloud Hospital’s emergency room after his arrest, where he was handcuffed and placed in a wheelchair. The family’s complaint alleges that hospital staff failed to respond to Norberg’s complaints that he was unable to breathe. He allegedly complained that he was having a heart attack and repeatedly begged the hospital staff for water.
Norberg was transported from the hospital to the Stearns County jail where the jail staff and an on-call medical provider ignored obvious signs of distress, according to the family’s complaint. The complaint further alleges that the jail staff and the on-call medical provider failed to address Norberg’s medical needs as he struggled to breathe and was repeatedly vomiting. Norberg died about five hours after being brought to the Stearns County jail from cardiac dysfunction, according to the family’s complaint.
A CentraCare spokesperson issued the following statement: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Nickolas Norberg and the loss of life experienced by his family and loved ones.” The attorney for Stearns County declined to comment on the family’s allegations.
CentraCare states on its website: “CentraCare Health has partnered with Stearns and Benton county officials to provide health care for incarcerated individuals. “CentraCare is pleased to provide medical care, integrated behavioral health, medication therapy management, social services and more for patients who are incarcerated. Correctional Care is a natural extension of our comprehensive, community-based medical services.” The program provides coordinated, cost-effective care to inmates at the jail facilities and in a clinic, upon release. This innovative correctional-medical partnership includes CentraCare, correctional facilities, local law enforcement, social services, public health, probation, community-based mental health, Veterans Affairs and the National Alliance on Mental Illness organization. In the St. Cloud area, this collaborative group coordinates care with the goal of reducing re-offense and making an impact on individuals with mental health concerns.
The CentraCare Correctional Care program has served approximately 1,000 inmates in Benton County and 2,854 inmates in Stearns County this past year. After being released from jail, 164 inmates sought care at CentraCare’s Coordinated Care Clinic. The clinic has expanded its hours and is now open five days per week.”
If you or a loved one were harmed due to the lack of appropriate medical care while in jail in Minnesota or in another U.S. state, you should promptly seek the legal advice of a Minnesota medical malpractice lawyer or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state who may investigate your jail malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a jail malpractice case, if appropriate.
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