Minn. man who sued jail over frostbitten feet dies

A Minnesota man who was suing jailers for failing to get him care for frostbitten feet has died in Iowa.

Attorney Robert Hajek said Thursday 43-year-old Patrick Uzalac died suddenly Wednesday at his sister's home in Clear Lake, Iowa. He says it appears Uzalac died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be performed to determine if his injuries contributed to his death.

If they did, the lawyer says, the lawsuit will become a wrongful death case.

Uzalac suffered severely frostbitten feet when he locked himself outside in January with only socks on his feet. He tossed snowballs at windows to try to get help. Police eventually came, then arrested him on an outstanding warrant. The lawsuit alleges jailers ignored his pleas for medical care until he had been locked up 42 hours.

The Ramsey County sheriff's office maintains Uzalac got professional medical attention in custody.