TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - An inmate is suing the Florida Department of Corrections after he says he was sprayed with 200-degree human wastewater, resulting in severe burns and mental anguish.
A lawsuit was filed Jan. 31 against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) by Michael Thomas, a resident of Washington County. The case is in Leon County Circuit Court.
On October 3, 2020, Thomas was assigned to a work crew tasked with repairing machinery in a water facility. Despite having no certification or experience for the repair work required, he was ordered to perform the task without any safety equipment, the suit says.
During the repair process, a malfunction caused him to be blasted with 80,000 gallons of 200-degree human wastewater, which resulted in severe burns, the suit says.
"After Plaintiff was able to pry himself off of he interior wall, he was forced to discard his clothing as it was burning him," the suit says. "Plaintiff then ran to the outside emergency shower in an attempt to cool off his body.
"Plaintiff was taken to medical, where he was forced to wait in excruciating pain for a captain to come and take his statement before an ambulance was called."
He was taken to one hospital but had to be transferred to Shands Hospital in Gainesville because of the severity of his injuries, he says.
"Plaintiff suffered weeks and months of agonizing pain and traumatic medical procedure," he says.
Thomas alleges that the FDOC's negligence led to his injuries. He asserts that warning labels were not present on manifold covers, gouges or pressure relief valves - violations of EPA regulations.
The incident has allegedly caused him physical disfigurement, medical expenses, lost wages and capacity to work, loss of enjoyment of life and mental anguish.
Marie Mattox represents the plaintiff.