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- calendar_today October 28, 2026
Jail Medical Neglect Lawsuit Filed After Inmate's Leg Amputation
A Nevada man has filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department and the medical staff at Clark County Detention Center, alleging that their failure to promptly treat a serious leg infection resulted in the amputation of his right leg. The lawsuit claims medical neglect and seeks damages, highlighting concerns over inmate medical care in the correctional system.
Details of the Allegations
The complaint, filed on October 28, 2026, names both Metro—responsible for overseeing the jail—and Wellpath LLC, the contracted medical provider. It alleges that staff showed deliberate indifference to Brian Haney's serious medical needs during his incarceration. Specifically, Haney's attorneys argue, "Mr. Haney did not lose his leg to an accident. He lost it to indifference." According to the suit, Haney's infection "festered in plain view" while adequate treatment was never provided.
Inmate Medical History and Timeline of Events
Haney was brought to the Clark County Detention Center on October 23, 2024, already suffering from a documented, infected right-leg injury. The medical staff reportedly attempted to address his condition using only basic first aid items, such as acetaminophen and triple antibiotic ointment. At the time, Haney also had a history of vascular issues, blood infections, and previous surgery on the same leg due to a 2022 motor vehicle accident.
Prior to his arrest, Haney had been hospitalized at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center from October 8-11, 2024, for wound infection and cellulitis. He was informed then that a below-the-knee amputation could become necessary. Shortly thereafter, a judge issued a bench warrant in connection with a criminal case where Haney faced drug charges.
Claims of Systemic Failures in Correctional Healthcare
During his month-long incarceration, Haney reportedly submitted several medical requests, describing escalating pain and difficulties walking. He wrote that his "leg is bleeding like pudding" and that he was "in extreme pain." The lawsuit alleges that jail staff minimized or ignored these warnings, with one written plea for help marked as "duplicate." According to the suit, "When the situation could no longer be ignored, Mr. Haney's leg was bleeding onto the floor of his housing unit in the early morning hours, and he had to be rushed from the jail to the hospital on an emergency basis." Two days later, on November 25, 2024, surgeons amputated his right leg above the knee.
Reactions from Metro and Wellpath
The Metropolitan Police Department declined to comment on the pending litigation, while Wellpath did not respond to requests for comment.
Legal Action and Claims for Damages
The lawsuit accuses both Metro and Wellpath of negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention of jail medical staff. Haney's attorneys argue the "custom, pattern or practice of minimizing, delaying and failing to act upon serious detainee medical complaints" amounted to a systemic failure. The lawsuit seeks more than $15,000 in damages for each of four legal claims.
Haney remained hospitalized until December 2, 2024, before returning to the jail. Court records indicate that his criminal case was later dismissed. The case underscores ongoing concerns regarding medical neglect, inmate infection management, and the adequacy of prison healthcare in the correctional system.
Source: reviewjournal.com.
