About 15 minutes later, staff found him to be unresponsive with no pulse. The following morning at about 9 a.m., staff saw Catanzarite on the surveillance system taking his mattress from his cell to the recreational area and laying down. The second assessment showed Catanzarite’s COWS level had skyrocketed to nine out of 11, including documented risk factors such as elevated pulse, sweating, joint aches, runny nose and gooseflesh skin.Ī nurse ordered a opioid detox regimen and gave a first dose, ordered detox housing, COWS monitoring twice daily, a lower bunk assignment and a medical provider referral, the lawsuit states. The nurse ordered a second nurse to conduct an intake assessment at a later time, but it was delayed for five and a half hours, until about 10:30 p.m., the lawsuit alleges. The nurse ordered detox housing for Catanzarite, but did not order further withdrawal assessments, detox regimens or an urgent referral to a medical provider. He also spends his free time learning Spanish and Portuguese.The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a prescription for Narcan, a drug used to reverse overdoses, and instructions to return to the ER if symptoms worsen, the lawsuit alleges.Īt the jail a registered nurse conducted a medical screening, and determined his Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) - used to assess the level of withdrawal - was a one, the least severe level, the lawsuit alleges. Chris is an avid distance runner who has run over fifty marathons and ultramarathons with race distances ranging from 26.2 miles to 135 miles. About Chris BenjaminĬhris is an Eagle Scout who grew up in Harrisonville, Missouri, where he is a graduate of Harrisonville High School.

He was also selected as a Top 40 under 40 member of the National Trial Lawyers organization. Chris has been selected as a Top 40 under 40 Family Lawyers in the State of Missouri for 2014 by the American Society of Legal Advocates. He is also a member of the Missouri Bar and a past member of the Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Judges Association. As a member of the Emergency Services Board, Chris drafted the By-Laws for the Board and he worked with the other Board members in oversight of the 911 sales tax in Cass County.Ĭhris has served as President of the Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Chris was elected twice by the residents of Cass County to serve on the Cass County Emergency Services Board. Awards and OrganizationsĬhris is a past member and Secretary of the Cass County Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Chris has also served on staff in the Missouri Senate.

In 2005, Chris worked with then State Senator Chris Koster to add a judge in Cass County, which created Division 5 of the 17th Circuit in Cass County. As a member of the Missouri House of Representatives leadership staff, Chris was instrumental in managing the drafting and passage of many legislative bills through the legislative process into Missouri law. Chris has been selected as a “Rising Star” by the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers publication for 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.Ĭhris’ past professional work includes serving as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives and as General Counsel to the Majority Floor Leader of the Missouri House of Representatives. He served as the municipal judge in Garden City, Missouri. Legal and Professional ExperienceĬhris has handled over a hundred bench trials in the greater Kansas City Missouri area and Cass County Missouri.

While attending the University of Missouri, Chris served as Vice President of the Missouri Students Association. He also has a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Chris graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia Law School in 2002. Chris Benjamin is a trial attorney with KC Road Lawyers LLC, practicing in the areas of personal injury, traffic law, and criminal defense.

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