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Family blames Hamilton County for death of Silverdale inmate, sues for $20 million

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Andrea White, center, shows a photo of her son, Oliver Hudson, being held by her mother, Carol Rene White, while she talks about missing her. Her sister, Samantha, left, and grandmother, Donna White, listen. The family of Carol Rene White spoke with the Chattanooga Times Free Press at the law offices of Davis and Hoss in Fort Wood on Aug. 2.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Andrea White, center, shows a photo of her son, Oliver Hudson, being held by her mother, Carol Rene White, while she talks about missing her. Her sister, Samantha, left, and grandmother, Donna White, listen. The family of Carol Rene White spoke with the Chattanooga Times Free Press at the law offices of Davis and Hoss in Fort Wood on Aug. 2.

By La Shawn Pagán 6 min read


A new federal lawsuit details alleged medical neglect and claims it led to the death of a Chattanooga woman five days into a 45-day sentence at the Silverdale Detention Center.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga, details the last days of Carol Rene White’s life and is asking for $10 million in compensatory damages and another $10 million in punitive damages. The suit names Hamilton County, former Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and Quality Correctional Health Care as defendants, along with three nurses.

“What makes Mrs. White’s case different from the other recently filed cases is twofold,” Chattanooga attorney Janie Varnell said in an email to the Chattanooga Times Free Press about the filing.