Jury clears Jefferson County, jail boss in ex-inmate’s civil suit

TACOMA — A federal jury needed only one hour Thursday to reach consensus clearing Jefferson County and Jail Superintendent Steve Richmond of a multimillion-dollar civil suit involving a former inmate and his amputated finger.

Both sides in the suit over the amputation of the Port Townsend man’s pinkie finger from a rare infection that lingered while he was in jail, sat in a quiet and tense courtroom just before the verdict was read by presiding U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Leighton.

Plaintiff Zachary Barbee’s attorneys, Erik Heipt and Edwin Budge, attempted to prove throughout the three-week trial that Richmond acted with deliberate indifference in denying medical care to Barbee during his 3½-day stay in the jail in fall 2004.

“The bottom line was they didn’t prove what they had to prove,” said 41-year-old juror Derick Huber of Olympia.

The foreman of the eight-person jury, 58-year-old Richard Read of Olympia, said he thought perhaps Barbee deserved compensation for what he’s gone through, but the level at which Barbee’s attorneys had to prove fault by Richmond and the county was extremely high.

“Collectively, we just couldn’t see that the plaintiff’s case met that level under the law,” said Read.

“But there were some on the jury who certainly had some issues with how Richmond conducted business in the jail.”

After the decision was read, Leighton said he appreciated the job done by the plaintiff’s side and that he respects “people who are willing to get in the trenches’ to argue a case like this.

Throughout the three-week trial, defense attorneys Mike Patterson and Charles Leitch maintained that the plaintiffs were arguing not just the Barbee case but also a 2002 American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against Jefferson County for denial of an inmate’s medical needs.

The ACLU suit was settled in 2003 with the county paying about $80,000.

At the time of that lawsuit, the jail was run by a different superintendent under a different sheriff.

“The jury obviously saw that the new administration under [Sheriff Mike] Brasfield and Richmond is a new era,” said Patterson.

More in News

Increased police presence expected at Port Angeles High School on Friday

An increased police presence is expected at Port Angeles… Continue reading

A 65-foot-long historic tug rests in the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven Marina’s 300-ton marine lift as workers use pressure washers to blast years of barnacles and other marine life off the hull. The tug was built for the U.S. Army at Peterson SB in Tacoma in 1944. Originally designated TP-133, it is currently named Island Champion after going through several owners since the army sold it in 1947. It is now owned by Debbie Wright of Everett, who uses it as a liveaboard. The all-wood tug is the last of its kind and could possibly be entered in the 2025 Wooden Boat Festival.(Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Wooden wonder

A 65-foot-long historic tug rests in the Port of Port Townsend Boat… Continue reading

Mark Nichols.
Petition filed in murder case

Clallam asks appeals court to reconsider

A 35-year-old man was taken by Life Flight Network to Harborview Medical Center following a Coast Guard rescue on Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles via Facebook)
Injured man rescued from remote Hoh Valley

Location requires precision 180-foot hoist

Kevin Russell, right, with his wife Niamh Prossor, after Russell was inducted into the Building Industry Association of Washington’s Hall of Fame in November.
Building association’s priorities advocate for housing

Port Angeles contractor inducted into BIAW hall of fame

Crew members from the USS Pomfret, including Lt. Jimmy Carter, who would go on to become the 39th president of the United States, visit the Elks Lodge in Port Angeles in October 1949. (Beegee Capos)
Former President Carter once visited Port Angeles

Former mayor recalls memories of Jimmy Carter

Thursday’s paper to be delivered Friday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition on… Continue reading

Counties agree on timber revenue

Recommendation goes to state association

Port of Port Angeles, tribe agree to land swap

Stormwater ponds critical for infrastructure upgrades

Poet Laureate Conner Bouchard-Roberts is exploring the overlap between poetry and civic discourse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
PT poet laureate seeks new civic language

City library has hosted events for Bouchard-Roberts

Five taken to hospitals after three-car collision

Five people were taken to three separate hospitals following a… Continue reading

John Gatchet of Gardiner, left, and Mike Tabak of Vancouver, B.C., use their high-powered scopes to try to spot an Arctic loon. The recent Audubon Christmas Bird Count reported the sighting of the bird locally so these bird enthusiasts went to the base of Ediz Hook in search of the loon on Sunday afternoon. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Bird watchers

John Gatchet of Gardiner, left, and Mike Tabak of Vancouver, B.C., use… Continue reading