Dennis Palmer of Midland, Ark., filed the lawsuit on Dec. 14, 2006, alleging that he was beaten by jailers on March 22, 2005.
Palmer originally filed the lawsuit against the county commissioners, Sheriff Johnny Philpot, Vondaine White, Franklin Lightfoot, Josh Davis, Christine Calbert, Robert Gude, Shane McHale, Debbie Cato and Sheila Pratt. Several of those named in the lawsuit no longer work at the jail.
During the course of the case, some of those defendants were released from the case for various reasons, per the judge's order. The trial that started on Feb. 20 included defendants Philpot, Lightfoot, Gude and McHale.
On Friday, the jury found in favor of McHale, Gude and Lightfoot in Palmer's claim that the three men assaulted and battered him and in the claim that they used excessive force against Palmer. The jury also found in favor of Philpot, whom Palmer claimed violated state law by inadequately training and supervising his employees.
The jail is overseen by the Sequoyah County Criminal Justice Authority, which includes Sheriff Philpot and County Commissioners Bruce Tabor, District 1, Steve Carter, District 2, and Mike Huff, District 3. The training of the jailers is not the sole concern of Philpot, but instead is overseen by the authority.
In Palmer's lawsuit, he alleged that he was in the county jail awaiting transport to the Muskogee County Jail when he was beaten. He also claimed that he received physical injuries and inadequate medical care.
While Palmer claimed he was beaten, the defendants claimed they only did what was necessary to restrain Palmer, whom they said was belligerent and would not keep on a suicide prevention gown, according to court records.
In his lawsuit, Palmer had asked for an amount in excess of $10,000, attorney's fees and other costs.
