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| Family of Murder Victim Sues Waco's Downtown Jail |
| By Waco Tribune-Herald |
| Published: 07/17/2002 |
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The family of murder victim Suncerey Coleman filed a lawsuit last week against CiviGenics, operators of a downtown Waco jail where an inmate escaped in November. The lawsuit claims that CiviGenics was negligent in allowing convicted felon Sherman Lamont Fields, 27, to obtain a key to the fifth-floor fire escape and flee the jail Nov. 6. Federal prosecutors have charged Fields and a former CiviGenics employee with Coleman's murder. They said Fields bribed the employee to give him the fire escape key. Authorities are seeking the federal death penalty against both men. The civil lawsuit, filed in the 19th District Court on behalf of Coleman's mother, sister and two of her three children, contends that CiviGenics is responsible for the wrongful death of 24-year-old Coleman. 'We are eager for a jury to hear this case,' said Waco attorney Bill Johnston, who represents the family. 'We believe the corporation bears the responsibility for what it allowed to happen.' Bob Prince, southwest regional director for CiviGenics, said he was not aware of the lawsuit. No damage amount was specified in the lawsuit, although CiviGenics' contract with McLennan County to operate the jail requires insurance of at least $10 million. According to the lawsuit, CiviGenics did not properly staff the jail, train officers or retain employees before Fields' escape. It said jail supervisors also waited more than four hours to alert law enforcement authorities that an inmate was missing on Nov. 6. |
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