WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) - A lawsuit brought by a Waynesboro man who was confined to a psychiatric ward after police and health care workers mistook his physical ailment for a “psychotic disorder” has been settled.
The News Virginian reports (https://bit.ly/2dqVR3T) that attorneys for plaintiff Gordon Goines announced Thursday that the settlement had been reached. Details of the settlement haven’t been released. The lawsuit named several Waynesboro police officers, the Valley Community Services Board and a worker for the VCSB.
The case stems from a May 2014 incident in which Goines complained to Waynesboro police about a neighbor splicing into his cable, causing unusual noises from his TV.
Goines has cerebellar ataxia, which results in an unsteady gait and slurred speech.
Instead of investigating the theft, police mistook Goines’ medical condition for “mental health issues.” This resulted in Goines being involuntary held at a psychiatric ward for five days.
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Information from: The News-Virginian, https://www.newsvirginian.com
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