QuickTake:

The lawsuit against Lane County alleges negligence, stating that Patrick Michael McAllister in a previous stay at the jail harmed himself and made a statement that he wanted deputies to kill him. The lawsuit claims his prior jail records were ignored before his death by suicide.

The estate of a 33-year-old Springfield man found hanging in his cell three days after being booked into the Lane County Jail has sued, alleging negligence and wrongful death.

Patrick Michael McAllister was taken to a hospital after being found by jailers March 13, 2025, and died 10 days later, according to the lawsuit filed June 23 in U.S. District Court in Eugene. 

He died by suicide, the lawsuit states.

McAllister had been serving a 17-day jail sentence, according to the lawsuit, which does not disclose the reason for the sentence.

In a different stay at the jail about three months earlier, McAllister, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, made statements while being booked that “he wanted deputies to use force and kill him,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit also alleges McAllister in December 2024 hit his head against the wall while in custody at the jail. The lawsuit cites a disciplinary note in which a jailer wrote that “I spoke to him about his weak attempts of harming himself,” and that McAllister “stated he had no intention of harming himself and was not feeling suicidal.”

The lawsuit alleges that when McAllister was booked into jail March 10, 2025, a jail deputy, Randall Broome, “refused to review Mr. McAllister’s prior jail records” and “made no effort to refer Mr. McAllister to mental health intake or evaluation.”

McAllister was not placed on suicide watch, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit contends that Broome, Lane County and others “were negligent when they failed to have and follow proper training, policies, and procedures on the assessment of persons with apparent medical and psychiatric needs.”

The lawsuit also alleges Broome, Lane County and others violated McAllister’s civil rights because they “knew that Mr. McAllister faced a substantial risk of suicide, yet callously disregarded that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it.”

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages to be proven in a jury trial.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office oversees the jail. Sgt. Levi McKenny, a sheriff’s office spokesman, said the sheriff’s office cannot comment on pending litigation.

In addition to Broome, the lawsuit filed against Lane County also names as defendants Sheriff Carl Wilkerson; former sheriff Cliff Harrold; Capt. Greg Rice, commander at the jail; and other unnamed individuals.

Sophia McAllister, sister of Patrick, filed the suit as the appointed personal representative of his estate. The McAllister estate is represented by Portland-based attorney Neal Weingart and Bend-based attorneys Chloe Thompson and David Rosen.