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Articles in Verdict1

TDCJ Settles Racial Discrimination Case for $10,000

In March 2004, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) settled a racial discrimination suit for $10,000.

John Spears was employed as a Food Service Manager III at the Lopez State Jail when he allegedly suffered racial discrimination from his supervisor. He was terminated by TDCJ, allegedly based on discrimination ...

Washington State Settles DOC Disability Accommodation Suit for $30,000

On January 24, 2008, the State of Washington settled a suit over lack of disability accommodation at the Department of Corrections (DOC) for $30,000.

Carolea Mathison, a DOC guard with astigmatism, was assigned to the information desk. The DOC was aware of her disability and that was why she was ...

Washington State Settles DOC Slip-and-Fall Claim for $20,000

On July 7, 2007, the State of Washington settled for $20,000 a tort claim filed by woman who was injured by a fall at a Department of Corrections office in Kennewick. The woman was a health care provider earning $829.00 a month, but was unable to work due to her ...

Washington State Settles Excessive Force/Injury Suit for $2,000

On October 30, 2008, the State of Washington settled for $2,000 the federal suit of a prisoner injured by a guard's alleged excessive use of force.

Larry Gene Heggem, a Washington state prisoner, was confined in segregation when he was allegedly assaulted by guard Brandon Kelley at the Washington State ...

Washington State Settles Prisoner's Premises Defect Suit for $5,000

On June 29, 2007, the State of Washington settled for $5,000 a lawsuit brought by a prisoner who had been injured due to a premises defect at a state prison kitchen.

Louis R. Pace was a Washington State prisoner incarcerated at the Airway Heights Correctional Center and working in the ...

Washington DOC Agrees to Pay $8,685.60 to Prisoner Hurt in Van Accident

The State of Washington has agreed to pay $8,685.60 to a prisoner who was injured during a car accident while on work release.

On May 29, 2007, Tracy Sehmel was injured when a Department of Corrections employee driving a work release van slammed into a stopped vehicle at 30 mph. ...

Pierce County, Washington Pays $2,500 Settlement for Violation of Civil Rights and Missing Vehicle

Washington State’s Pierce County paid $2,500 to settle a claim for violation of civil rights and misplacing a vehicle.

For no apparent reason, Officer J. Billings of the Steilacoom Police department activated his emergency police lights and pulled over Byron Burris. Billings approached Burris’s vehicle as Burris exited his. Billings ...

District of Columbia Pays $6,000 for Breach of Duty of Care

On May 12, 2003, District of Columbia (D.C.) DOC prisoner Jeremiah Lester accepted a $6,000 settlement from District officials for injuries he suffered during a brutal attack that occurred in May 1999 at the Youth Center One facility in Lorton, Virginia.

Plaintiff's counsel, Harry T. Spikes of Washington, D.C., filed ...

District of Columbia to Pay $5,000 for Breach of Duty of Care

On October 2, 2000, a District of Columbia (D.C.) prisoner, Antonio Avery, accepted a $5,000 settlement for injuries he suffered during an attack on him by two other prisoners at Central Facility in Lorton, Virginia on June 11, 1999.

Filed in November 1999 by D.C. attorney Harry T. Spikes, the ...

$1,000 Claim Settlement for Washington State Prisoner Injured in Fall

On September 13, 2007, Washington State settled for $1,000 a tort claim brought by a state prisoner who slipped and fell in a prison kitchen.

Michael Laursen, a Washington State prisoner, was working in the dishwashing area of the kitchen at Clallam Bay Corrections Center when he slipped and fell, ...