Family sues over death of inmate

According to a state report the death of an Oceanside man, who was in the custody of the Nassau County Jail on July 14, 2014 could have been prevented. The report found health care providers at the jail were “incompetent and deficient” in treating 40 year old John Gleeson who suffered from angioedema, a condition that may cause swelling which can lead to difficulty breathing.

Now his family filed a wrongful death federal lawsuit on Nov. 16 in Central Islip against the company contracted by the county to oversee medical care at the jail, Armor Correctional Health Services of Miami. The suit calls Gleeson’s death “needless, shameful and preventable.” Named in the suit are Nassau County, County Sheriff Michael Sposato, his department, the jail, some correction officers and medical workers from the jail.

The state report said “Had John Gleeson been provided with competent medical care by Armor Inc. in a timely manner, been properly referred to a specialist, received a correct diagnosis, and received proper medical treatment, his death may have been prevented. “ The suit states Gleeson “was denied competent, necessary, medically obvious and timely care by the defendants.”

According to the report Gleeson tried to get medical care on the day he died, after he had pleaded not guilty to burglary charges. The medical staff gave him Benadryl and sent him back to his cell. Hours late the other inmates tried to alert the staff to the breathing problems Gleeson was having. The state report says a correction officer told officials Gleeson’s head “was all swollen and blue” when he walked to the medical unit at 10:16 p.m. It said an ambulance arrived at the jail at 10:40 p.m., and Gleeson was taken to the hospital at 10:56 p.m.

Neither the County nor Armor would comment on the case. Calls the Gleeson’s family’s lawyer, James Pascarella, were not returned.