Thornton v. City of Flint

Plaintiff Robert Lee Thornton brought this action for damages against defendant Flint, a municipal corporation, for its negligence in failing to take proper precautions to insure his safety when he was incarcerated in defendant’s jail during July, 1968. Both before and during plaintiff’s jailing, defendant had allegedly been given notice that plaintiff was a chronic alcoholic with a past history of suffering from delirium tremens. Plaintiff was awarded a judgment of $20,000 by a jury, and defendant appeals as of right from that judgment.

Plaintiff was arrested for breach of peace by police…