A Missouri man filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Center for Behavioral Medicine in Kansas City, claiming the facility failed to protect him from another patient's violent behavior, reports The Kansas City Star.
Nathaniel Hughes, a patient at the state-run mental health facility, allegedly punched Daniel Garcia in the face March 22, according to the lawsuit. Mr. Garcia suffered from fractured facial bones, along with injuries to his eye, jaw and teeth. Mr. Hughes was charged with first-degree assault, according to Jackson County (Mo.) Circuit Court records cited by The Kansas City Star.
The suit alleges staff members at the facility knew about other physical attacks carried out by Mr. Hughes as far back as 2016 but did not take steps to protect Mr. Garcia and other patients from his "dangerous and aggressive behavior."
Mr. Garcia's lawyers argue he had a constitutional right to be protected from patient-on-patient violence. He is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, along with attorney fees.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health does not comment on pending litigation, a department spokesperson told The Kansas City Star Oct. 29.
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