A Clovis man who claimed he was wrongfully jailed by
Fresno County authorities for allegedly violating probation was awarded
$425,000 by a federal jury.James L. Quinn also said that police
wouldn't let him retrieve heart medication when he was arrested, and
jailers later failed to heed his pleas for medical treatment when he
began having chest pains.Quinn also claimed that from the time of
his "false arrest" until he was released from the now-shuttered
University Medical Center after authorities finally moved him there from
the Fresno County Jail, he lost $64,000 as part of his wholesale
produce business.At that time, he also had a "test run" in place for Whole Foods, which could have resulted in additional business.

Jurors reached a verdict recently after a four-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill.













The verdict went against both Fresno County and former probation
officer David Alanis. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the county
Probation Department, Chief Probation Officer Linda Penner, the district
attorney and the Fresno Police Department were also initially sued but
were dismissed from the case early on in the proceedings.County
Administrative Officer John Navarrette said he couldn't comment on the
verdict. "We have received the decision, and we are going to confer with
the board to see if they wish to pursue any additional action," he
said.Quinn's lawsuit charged the county and Alanis with violating
his civil rights, negligence, false arrest, deliberate indifference and
failing to maintain accurate records, among other things.The
lawsuit says that in September 2005, Quinn pleaded guilty to driving
under the influence of alcohol. He then "faithfully and fully" met all
the terms of his probation, including attending Alcoholics Anonymous
meetings and completing a "Monthly Report Form."According to the
lawsuit, Quinn turned in the forms monthly as required, but in February
2007 he was arrested on a probation violation. The alleged violation was
not turning in the forms in December 2006 or January and February of
2007.Quinn said he had time-stamped copies of all the reports,
but a Fresno police detective, "acting pursuant to the authority and
direction of Alanis," didn't allow time to retrieve the documents.The lawsuit says Quinn handed the December report to Alanis, and talked with him when he delivered the one in January.

Quinn's
lawsuit further claims he told authorities he had a cardiac condition
that required medication. He ended up spending a few days in the Fresno
County Jail without the medication, where his condition worsened to the
point that he was taken to the hospital.Both Quinn and his Monterey-based attorney, David Hollingsworth, could not be reached for comment.





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