Man Wins $750K After Suffering 6-Day Erection, Broken Penis in Jail
LatestRodney Cotton is $750,000 dollars richer today, but the money he’s won from New York City will likely do little to help him get his life back on track. While money is helpful, sure, it won’t bring back what’s most important: the loss of penile function that Cotton suffered after spending time in a Manhattan jail.
The jail Cotton was in, often called The Tombs colloquially, is not exactly known for its excellent inmate care, and Cotton’s treatment was no exception. As a side effect of Risperdal, a drug he takes for bipolar disorder, Cotton suffers from priapism—persistent, painful erections—and was rebuked when he asked for help at the jail. After several visits to the infirmary, Cotton was told that the only thing that could really be done was to wait the erection out. He was also given an ice pack and some Tylenol, which is not exactly best practices when treating priapism. (The common treatment for the condition, if you were wondering, is much more involved and includes both needles and possible surgery.)