Man involved in police shoot-out sues sheriff | News

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- A Huntsville man charged with attempted murder for a shootout with police is suing the Madison County sheriff.

Samuel Ward filed the suit against Sheriff Blake Dorning and a jail physician earlier this week. He claims he hasn't received proper medical care while incarcerated, and is seeking $3.5-million in damages.

Ward is currently incarcerated after being convicted for assaulting a police officer. He also faces attempted murder charges, following a December 2011 shootout involving two other officers at the Butler Terrace public housing complex.

In the two-page handwritten complaint, Ward claims that after sustaining eight gunshot wounds, his constant medical requests were either ignored, or discounted as frivolous. Ward goes on to say he exhausted all financial resources in an attempt to receive appropriate care for his injuries and is getting no response in his request for rehab.

Legal expert Mark McDaniel said while the document filed is sufficient to get the case in court, the allegations are not. He said the plaintiff doesn't give any details to back up his claims.  

"They will deny this because every time this person has been treated, it has been documented," explained McDaniel. "They will answer it and their answer will say they deny all material allegations made in this complaint and demand strict proof thereof. That puts the burden back on him to prove what he says in this complaint."

The county has 30 days to respond to this lawsuit. Meantime, Ward is scheduled to be sentenced for his assault conviction next week.

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