10th Circuit Upholds $33M Judgment Against Oklahoma Sheriff in Detainee Death

The Tenth Circuit affirmed a $33 million judgment against the Ottawa County Sheriff for a detainee’s death.

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $33 million jury award against the Ottawa County Sheriff, concluding that the sheriff's office is liable for the 2015 death of Terry Ellis, a pretrial detainee who died from untreated pneumonia while in custody.

• In August 2023, a federal jury found the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office liable for violating Ellis's Fourteenth Amendment rights by showing deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs while detained. Read the full opinion.
• The Tenth Circuit's April 21, 2026, decision emphasized that the evidence showed a "pattern of deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of detainees, culminating in Mr. Ellis's tragic death," quoted U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell.
• Circuit Judge Carolyn B. McHugh wrote, "This case underscores the critical importance of ensuring that all individuals in custody receive timely and adequate medical care, as mandated by the Constitution."
• The court’s analysis pointed to systemic failings in Ottawa County Jail’s protocols and responses to medical needs as a driving factor in the outcome, reinforcing precedent for similar civil rights claims.

This decision serves as a critical warning for law enforcement and corrections agencies regarding their constitutional obligations toward those in custody and carries significant compliance and litigation ramifications for in-house counsel and risk managers.