San Antonio, Tex. — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump today announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against the City of San Antonio and Bexar County on behalf of the family of Daniel Pentkowski. The lawsuit highlights systemic failures in law enforcement practices and custodial care, which the family alleges led to the wrongful death of Mr. Pentkowski, who died on January 25, 2023, after being arrested and held in the Bexar County Jail.
The complaint details a series of events that began with Mr. Pentkowski’s peaceful presence outside a rental property, escalated unnecessarily by law enforcement, resulting in injuries that likely contributed to his tragic death while in custody. Allegations include excessive use of force by a San Antonio Police Department officer during the arrest and gross negligence by jail staff who failed to provide proper medical care and monitoring.
“The death of Daniel Pentkowski is another devastating example of the culture of violence and neglect within our justice system that creates a staggering amount of harm and loss,” said Crump. “No family should endure the pain of losing a loved one to the very system meant to protect them. The City of San Antonio and Bexar County must be held accountable for their gross indifference and repeated failures.”
The lawsuit cites violations of Mr. Pentkowski’s Fourteenth Amendment rights, including excessive force and denial of medical care. Independent autopsy findings revealed that Mr. Pentkowski’s death was a homicide caused by severe blunt force trauma, compression, and positional asphyxia.
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
