ROCKWALL COUNTY, Texas — The family of 43-year-old Michael Galvan, who died after suffering a head injury at Rockwall County Jail, is suing Rockwall County and the jail's for-profit healthcare provider, Turn Key Health Clinics, according to the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C.
According to the law firm, Galvan was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated and taken to jail. After some time, Galvan reportedly began showing unusual behavior that included talking to himself, trying to open locked doors and interacting with nothing, the law firm said.
Galvan was allegedly unstable on his feet and fell numerous times, which resulted in a severe head injury, the law firm said.
According to the law firm, no emergency medical treatment was given to Galvan and instead, jail personnel took vital signs and looked at Galvan's head.
The law firm said eventually Galvan fell unconscious and EMS was called. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, but he later died from the head injury sustained.
According to the law firm, had Galvan been medically treated in a timely manner, the injury could have been surgically remedied.
“It makes little sense to continue taking Mr. Galvan's vital signs, rather than calling EMS and/or taking him to a local emergency room for evaluation," Dean Malone said in a press release. "He clearly began exhibiting bizarre behavior which he did not exhibit when he was first incarcerated, and a number of people in the jail knew that he had fallen several times and hit his head. There is no shortage of competent medical personnel in hospitals in the Dallas area, and timely transport to an appropriate hospital would have saved Mr. Galvan’s life.”
WFAA reached out to Rockwall County for comment. However, they have not responded yet.
