Then: A Chattanooga man filed a $1 billion federal lawsuit against former Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and jail medical staff alleging medical neglect in the facility, according to a January 2023 complaint.
Edgar Goodwin, who filed the lawsuit on his own behalf, accused jail medical staff of failing to respond to hundreds of his requests for medical assistance for cancer and other ailments.
The Sheriff’s Office previously said there is round-the-clock medical staff available for people housed at the jail.
Goodwin, 57, alleged this was untrue, citing his 100 to 300 unanswered medical grievances.
“To this day, for four months, have still not been treated medically, for any of my medical conditions, in any capacity, at any time,” Goodwin wrote in the lawsuit.
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He accused correctional officers of harassment due to his requests for medical attention.
Goodwin suffered from “stomach pain, joint body pain, TB, cancer, anemia, low red blood cell and white blood cell counts, extreme weight loss, skin irritations, groin pain, pain in private parts and all day and night cold chills and sweat” and sought compensation for medical neglect, according to the lawsuit.
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Now: Goodwin’s lawsuit was dismissed two months after he filed it, as he failed to comply with court rules and orders, according to a memorandum opinion.
He didn’t complete service packets related to his complaint in a timely manner and didn’t notify the court of a change of address, the opinion said. A person who is representing themselves may be entitled to some leeway when dealing with complex issues, but that does not apply to direct procedural requirements that a person without legal experience can easily understand.
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Goodwin attempted to appeal the decision, but he did not pay the proper filing fee.
He has an extensive criminal history, including escape from a jail, burglary and possession of crack cocaine, according to the Hamilton County Criminal Court clerk.
He is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and possession of contraband in a penal institution. On Nov. 14, 2024, Goodwin repeatedly stabbed another inmate at the Hamilton County Jail with a homemade knife while another man beat the inmate with a broomstick, according to an affidavit of complaint.
A reporter was unable to contact Goodwin for this story because he is being held without bail. He also did not have an attorney representing his case as of Thursday morning.
Hamilton County Attorney Janie Varnell did not respond to text messages requesting comment within 24 hours.
Contact courts reporter Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.
