Local News in Brief : Huntington Beach : City Treated Epileptic Adequately, Jury Holds

A jury has found that the city of Huntington Beach provided adequate medical care for an epileptic who suffered a seizure while in custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

Bruce Usher, 32, of Westminster had claimed in his lawsuit that officers failed to follow jail policy when they kept him in a holding cell for 12 hours without the approval of a physician.

The jury deliberated for two hours Wednesday and decided that the city was not liable because Usher had been examined and monitored by a jail matron, who is a registered nurse.

The city also argued that Usher was taken to a hospital after suffering the seizure and an emergency room doctor determined that it was safe to keep him in custody, Assistant City Atty. William S. Amsbary said.

Usher filed the lawsuit in 1982 after he suffered a seizure, lost control of his car and was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.

According to Usher’s attorney, Day Carman, Usher told police at the time that he was an epileptic and that he needed medication. Yet he was taken into custody and placed in a holding cell, where he suffered another seizure, Carman said.

Blood tests later revealed that there were no drugs or alcohol in Usher’s system at the time of the arrest,and no formal charges were filed, his attorney said.