Rockwall County, Texas – Alleging negligence in the death of their son, 43-year-old Michael Galvan, a Hopkins County family is suing the Rockwall County Detention Center in a federal lawsuit. Galvan’s parents’ lawsuit targets the jail as well as a private health care provider in charge of inmate treatment at the time, alleging that Galvan’s premature death resulted from their neglect to offer prompt and sufficient medical attention.
Michael Galvan, who lived near Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County, was arrested by Royse City police on March 24, 2023, for DWI, third or more offense. Galvan started acting strangely during his stay at the Rockwall County Detention Center, which his family’s attorney, Dean Malone, claims was blatantly indicative of his worsening state of health. Emphasizing the strange change in Galvan’s behavior, Malone said he started talking to himself, trying to open locked doors, and engaging with objects that weren’t there.
According to Malone, Galvan fell inside the jail and suffered a serious head injury along with his disturbing actions. The lawsuit argues that although he clearly felt uncomfortable, correctional staff members neglected to act appropriately in case of an emergency. Per the press release issued by the attorney Dean Malone, Galvan kept falling and knocked his head several times while knowing the seriousness of his injuries; yet, no quick medical intervention was taken.
Instead of promptly transferring Galvan to a medical facility, jail staff reportedly continued to conduct only minimal checks, such as taking his vital signs or glancing at his head and pupils. According to Malone, emergency medical services were not finally contacted until Galvan passed out following multiple falls. By then it was too late; Galvan was sent to a nearby hospital but died days later on April 4, 2023 from his injuries.
“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,” Malone asserted. He highlighted that the prolonged period during which Galvan’s condition deteriorated without proper medical intervention exemplifies gross negligence by the jail and its healthcare providers.
Following Galvan’s passing, Rockwall County officials have admitted continuous efforts to raise standards of inmate treatment. The county revealed in June the launch of OverWatch, a futuristic biometric monitoring system meant to improve inmate safety and well-being. This device tracks vital signs including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and activity via wireless wearable sensors, therefore giving personnel real-time alerts should an inmate’s health decline.
Jim Barto, Rockwall County’s public information officer, pointed out that the result might have been different had OverWatch been in place during Galvan’s incarceration.
“It’s a much better option than just spot checks,” said Jim Barto, the public information officer for Rockwall County as reported by Royse City Herald Banner. “[OverWatch] has the ability to monitor an inmate a whole lot easier and notify staff [at the jail] if there’s a problem with an inmate.”
For the Galvan family, it comes too late even if county officials insist that OverWatch is a first step toward solving some of the operational issues the jail has encountered, like controlling inmate conduct and guaranteeing prompt medical treatment. The complaint emphasizes a more general issue on the quality of medical treatment in prisons and the necessity of institutional reforms to stop such awful events.
Managing the detention facilities, the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office said it had not yet been officially informed of the case. The case does, however, draw attention to persistent problems with the jail system and raises concerns regarding responsibility and the obligations of private health care professionals in custodial environments.
The Galvan family seeks justice for what they believe was an entirely preventable death as the lawsuit moves forward. There should not be any family having to go through this type of loss. The systems in place failed Michael and the family believes this action will bring much-needed change to guarantee it doesn’t happen to another inmate.
The case is likely to highlight the sometimes-disregarded complexity of inmate treatment as well as the vital need of quick medical assistance in custodial settings. For Galvan’s family, the legal case calls for systematic changes in the care of vulnerable people behind bars in addition to a demand for responsibility.