Brain-Damaged Inmate Settles With Northwest Pennsylvania County

A northwestern Pennsylvania county’s insurance company is paying $65,000 to settle claims by a former inmate left brain-damaged after a jail guard allegedly slammed him into a wall.

The Erie Times-News reports Erie County isn’t acknowledging any wrongdoing in approving the settlement with 64-year-old Jerome McCallion, a homeless Vietnam veteran.

McCallion sued in February claiming he was injured in May 2011, while he was serving time for harassment and a parole violation. McCallion claims the guard became angry as he was escorting McCallion to the shower, and slammed the inmate’s head into a wall.

McCallion contends he still has speech and vision problems and seizures.

The county claims guards used “reasonable and necessary” force to restrain McCallion, who was hurt when he fell to the floor of his cell.