Attorney Troy L. Bowlin of The Bowlin Law Firm has filed lawsuits in the
Knox County Circuit Court as well as the U.S. District Court against the
Knox County Sheriff's Office. The lawsuit alleges that the KCSO inappropriately
punished an inmate through the misuse of a restraint chair. Defendants
of the lawsuit include the KCSO, Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones,
two supervisors, and additional jail staff.
The combined lawsuits seek to recover damages valued well over $10 million
after an inmate, Lavonte Simmons, was allegedly held in a therapeutic
restraint chair meant for suicidal inmates using methods that violated
the sheriff office's policies. Bowlin is arguing that there were no
surveillance cameras on the chair, and that Simmons was not given a proper
mental health evaluation.
Learn more about the case on the website for the
Tennessee Bar Association.