Despite signs

he needed medical attention, James Edward Eppinger was never seen by a

physician before he died in a scuffle at the Fayette County Jail August

2000, according to the affidavit of an expert who has studied the case.

The affidavit

of Dr. Robert B. Greifinger, who has overseen medical care programs for

inmates in Fulton and DeKalb Counties, has been filed in federal court

in Newnan. The information is part of a lawsuit filed by Eppinger's parents,

who hope to hold the county and the medical firm it contracts with for

inmate care liable for their son's death.

Dr. Manuel

M. Fajardo and Southern Health Partners Inc., were responsible for providing

inmate care to the Fayette jail. Four nurses are also named in the suit.

The suit contends

the inactions of the medical staff amounted to "medical malpractice."

Fajardo was

negligent "by his failure to examine Mr. Eppinger and diagnose and

treat his serious medical needs," Greifinger said.

According to

Greifinger's account, when Eppinger was jailed, he was first treated as

if he were suffering from withdrawals from alcohol. In the five days before

his death, medical staff at the jail "failed to properly diagnose

and treat Eppinger's deteriorating medical condition," Griefinger

said.

At one point

during his incarceration, a nurse phoned in an order for the drug librium,

according to the suit.

The suit claims

that Eppinger's death was caused by sheriff's deputy David Martin, who

put him in a choke hold while trying to subdue him during an altercation.

At the time, Eppinger was being transferred from the general population

to a more isolated area of the jail.

Eppinger's

death was ruled a homicide, according to the suit. A grand jury was presented

evidence in the case but Martin was not indicted for his actions.

During his

stay in jail, Eppinger suffered from hallucinations and irrational fears,

according to the suit.

The county

has officially denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

Days before

his death, Eppinger began serving a 14-day sentence for operating a motor

vehicle without a driver's license.