On July 7, 2025, Wagner Reese, LLP, together with Hall-Justice Law Firm, LLC, filed a federal wrongful death civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the Estate of Troy Dean Pownell. The suit names Tippecanoe County Sheriff Robert Goldsmith, former Jail Commander Thomas Lehman, five jail officers, Quality Correctional Care, LLC (the medical contractor for Tippecanoe County Jail) and two of its nurses. This legal action follows the tragic wrongful death of 38-year-old Troy Pownell, who died on April 9, 2024, after being detained at the jail from April 2 to April 8.
Troy was arrested for missing a court date and entered the jail in good health despite his history of drug addiction. However, four days into his detention, Troy began experiencing severe abdominal pain. Despite repeatedly pleading with jail officers and medical staff for help, his symptoms were dismissed and misdiagnosed as drug withdrawal. Nurses and officers ignored the severity of his condition, even as he vomited blood, was unable to stand, and exhibited alarming signs such as abnormal heart rate and altered pupil response.
On the morning of April 8, Troy stated, “Something’s not right…I think I’m dying!” Yet, the nurse who examined him refused to send him to the hospital, attributing his symptoms to drug withdrawal and accusing him of faking illness. Throughout the day, his condition worsened, and despite urgent pleas from his cellmates, jail staff mocked him and denied him timely emergency medical care. Troy eventually began seizing later that evening, and by the time medics arrived, it was too late. He died the following day from sepsis caused by a perforated duodenal ulcer.
Wagner Reese, LLP, led by attorney attorney Stephen Wagner, is stepping up to hold the responsible parties accountable for this grave neglect. The lawsuit emphasizes that inmates rely entirely on jail personnel for emergency medical care, and deliberate indifference to a detainee’s serious medical needs violates the U.S. Constitution.
“Mr. Pownell’s tragic death was the result of more than just medical negligence. Through their actions, inactions and callous words, the jailers and nurses made it clear they did not care about Troy,” said Stephen Wagner. “A nurse can be heard telling him, ‘You’re not getting a free ride to the hospital today!’ Jail officers called him obscene names and told his cell mate to quit pressing the call button. As a result of this deliberate indifference to Troy’s serious medical condition, he died a painful and unnecessary death.”
Wagner Reese, LLP has spearheaded many jail death cases over the years, holding county and jail officials liable for violating the rights of those entrusted to their care. For more information about Wagner Reese, please visit WagnerReese.com.
About Wagner Reese
Wagner Reese, LLP is one of Indiana’s premier personal injury law firms, with decades of combined experience in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and consumer protection cases. Recognized for their client-centered approach, the attorneys at Wagner Reese fight passionately for justice on behalf of families across Indiana.
