Your dad would sue the jail for negligence and if this is a state facility would also name the state as a defendant in the lawsuit.  If the jail is a county facility, also name the county as a defendant.Negligence is the failure to exercise due care (that degree of care that a reasonable jail would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm).Your dad's damages (the amount of monetary compensation he is seeking in his lawsuit) would be for the medical bills and pain and suffering.  Compensation for the medical bills is straight reimbursement.  Compensation for pain and suffering is an amount in addition to the medical bills and is determined by the medical reports which will document the nature and extent of his injury.If the case is NOT settled with the defendants' insurance carriers, the lawsuit for negligence must be filed prior to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or your dad will lose his rights forever in the matter.It would be advisable to speak with a personal injury attorney.