A pretrial detainee has filed a lawsuit against Cook County and its Sheriff, alleging violations of his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act. On November 25, 2025, Ronald Matthew Sanders submitted his complaint to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, accusing Sheriff Thomas Dart and other unnamed correctional officers and medical staff of failing to provide necessary accommodations following his surgery.
The case stems from an incident in late November 2023 when Sanders was admitted to Cook County Jail after undergoing orthopedic surgery due to a gunshot wound. Despite being medically assigned a wheelchair for mobility issues, Sanders claims he was denied this accommodation upon entering the jail on November 30, 2023. Instead, he was forced to navigate long distances using a walker or crutches, exacerbating his pain and risking further injury. According to Sanders, jail staff ignored medical records that documented his need for a wheelchair and dismissed his inquiries with statements like “There ain’t no wheelchair.”
Sanders argues that these actions violated his constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment as well as federal disability laws. He contends that Cook County’s failure to provide him with a wheelchair amounted to discrimination based on his disability. The complaint also highlights systemic issues within the jail’s operations, pointing out that similar failures have been noted in an ADA class action lawsuit involving Cook County.
In seeking justice, Sanders is asking for compensatory and punitive damages against individual defendants. He also requests attorney fees under federal law and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. His complaint underscores not only personal grievances but also broader concerns about how disabled detainees are treated within the Cook County Jail system.
Representing himself pro se in this legal battle, Ronald Matthew Sanders has brought these allegations before Judge Martha M. Pacold and Magistrate Judge Beth Ww. Jantz under Case No. 1:25-cv-14427.
Source: 125cv14427_Ronald_Matthew_v_Cook_County_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
