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Articles in Verdict1

Washington State Makes Work Release Available to Disabled Prisoners; Monetary Payments to Class Members

The Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that results in not only a policy change but monetary payments to class members.

Represented by the Seattle law firm of Budge and Heipt, WDOC prisoner ...

$950,000 Settlement for California Prisoner Rendered Quadriplegic

In February 2008, the California Department of Corrections (DOC) settled a lawsuit by a prisoner who had been allegedly rendered quadriplegic by medical mistreatment after he was knocked unconscious in a fight.

According to the complaint, Kenneth Holcomb, a DOC prisoner, was attacked by other prisoners, severely injured and rendered ...

BOP Settles FTCA Abuse/Religious Discrimination Suit for $48,000

O
n August 12, 2009, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) agreed to settle a lawsuit by a Muslim former prisoner who alleged that he was tortured and beaten after complaining to investigators about his Quar’an and Kufi being desecrated.

From April 5, 1996, until October 4, 2005, Hakeem Shaheed ...

$75,000 Settlement in Heart Attack Death of Missouri Jail Prisoner

On June 3, 2009, Greene County, Missouri agreed to pay half of a $75,000 settlement in a wrongful death action brought by the family of a prisoner who died while at the Greene County Jail.

In July 2005, Winston Eugene Holt, a federal prisoner being held on charges at the ...

Colorado Detainee Tasered During Seizure, Paid $116,731.73 and $83,268.27 in Fees

A Colorado detainee settled his medical neglect and excessive force suit within four months of filing for $116,731.73 in damages and $83,268.27 in attorney’s fees.

On July 26, 2006, Michael R. Martin was booked into Colorado’s Adams County Detention Facility (ACDF). He was on a high dosage of Xanax for ...

$2.4 Million Settlement in Children’s Death Caused by California Jail Guard’s Driving

A $2.4 million settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving three children being killed in an automobile accident caused by a California jail guard on the way to work.

As Tulare County guard Joseph D. Armstrong was on the way to work at the county’s jail, he ran a ...

Oneida County, NY Jail Suicide Litigation Settled for $225,000

In May 2008 the County of Oneida agreed to pay $100,000, and CNY Services agreed to pay $125,000, in settlement of a wrongful death claim brought by the parents of a 17-year-old detainee who committed suicide in the Oneida County Jail one month after his detention.

Cail Williamson, a resident ...

Los Angeles County Jail Agrees To Pay $900,000 to Settle Lawsuit over Inadequate Medical Care

Los Angeles County has agreed to pay $900,000 to a prisoner who lost his foot after staff at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) in California delayed processing a culture test that later showed the prisoner had a serious infection.

Franklin Silva was arrested on March 7, 2005, by ...

TDCJ Guards Denied Qualified Immunity in Failure to Protect Case

On April 14, 2004, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) agreed to pay $84,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Texas prisoner Eugene Cantu. The original complaint was filed July 3, 2000 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment when guards ...

TDCJ Pays $95,000 to Settle Discrimination Suit

On October 28, 2008, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) agreed to pay former employee, Karon K. Connelly, $41,524.38 to settle a discrimination suit she had filed in May 2003. In addition to that amount, TDCJ is to pay $38,000 in attorney's fees to attorneys Martin A. Shellist, Mark ...