Hessler suit moves to federal court

The wrongful death lawsuit brought against St. Croix County by the family of a New Richmond man who died three days after being booked into jailed has been moved to federal court.

Attorneys for the county Sheriff Dennis Hillstead and several jailers named as defendants in the suit have sought to move to case last week to federal court in Madison from Eau Claire County Circuit Court where the estate of Brandon Lee Hessler filed it earlier this year.

The county will defend against the suit's allegations of deliberate indifference by jail staff to Hessler's "obvious physical symptoms of distress," observable when he was brought to jail on March 15, 2007 for bail jumping and resisting arrest.

Hessler, 28, was under the influence of a controlled substance when he was picked up and taken to jail by New Richmond police for allegedly violating the bail condition of absolute sobriety, according to the criminal complaint.

For a complete report see the April 3 edition of the Star-Observer.

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