A 57-year-old man with autism and developmental disabilities, died 11 days after arriving at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.
Antony Talotta’s family says his death resulted from an untreated infection from a foot injury. The injury happened during a fight with a staff member at his group home, which led to his jail admission.
The family filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, October 17, claiming inadequate medical care by the jail’s staff. They argue that jail policies make it difficult for prisoners with mental or developmental disabilities to get proper medical care, alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
From March 2020 to September 2022, the lawsuit mentions that 17 people, mainly with mental health or chronic medical issues, died in the jail. Attorney Alec Wright, representing Talotta’s family, emphasized that the lawsuit aims for justice for all those affected by the jail’s policies and practices.
Named in the lawsuit are the Allegheny Health Network, the contracted medical care provider for the jail, Medical Director Donald W. Stechschulte, and Dr. Wilson Bernales. The latter had faced medical license suspensions in eight states. The lawsuit challenges the decision to hire Bernales without examining his past licensing issues. The legal action lists allegations including neglect, insufficient training, wrongful death, and discrimination.
When contacted, Bernales, now in Nevada, clarified his past licensing issues as “administrative concerns.”
The lawsuit highlights several lapses in Talotta’s care: lack of antibiotics, confiscation of medical supplies, and insufficient wound care. On September 20, after showing severe symptoms, Talotta was given a Benadryl and sent to his cell. He was later found unresponsive and died the next day in a hospital.
Luciana Randall, the president of Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, noted the absence of accurate data on incarcerated people with developmental disabilities, emphasizing the need for more supportive programs.
The Talotta family, while grieving their loss, hopes their legal action will prevent similar occurrences in the future.