A Pinellas County inmate has filed a lawsuit against the local sheriff’s office, alleging negligence that led to severe injuries. Shawn Swofford, through his attorney David A. Papa, lodged the complaint on June 6, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, targeting the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

The lawsuit details two separate incidents where Swofford claims he was injured due to the negligence of PCSO while serving his sentence at their correctional facility. The first incident occurred on January 22, 2021. According to the complaint, Swofford was returning his breakfast tray by extending his arm through an electronic gate when a guard closed the gate on his arm. This action allegedly trapped his arm against another bar and caused significant injury. “As owner of this facility,” states the complaint, “Defendant, PCSO, has a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe manner and not allow automatic gates to close on inmates’ arms.”

Swofford argues that PCSO breached this duty by allowing or negligently activating the gate despite it being clearly visible that he was in danger. The result of this negligence, according to Swofford’s claim, has been permanent bodily injuries leading to pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, and ongoing medical expenses.