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| Former inmates win $1.2M suit against county |
| By Philadelphia Inquirer |
| Published: 01/13/2005 |
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A $1.2 million federal verdict for two former Bucks County, PA., prison inmates could be a grim harbinger for county officials, who still face a number of similar lawsuits alleging substandard prison conditions. On Monday, a U.S. District Court jury in Philadelphia said the county, two prison administrators and a prison nurse had violated the rights of two inmates who developed flesh-eating staph infections while in the county facility. After a six-day trial, the jury awarded $800,000 to Kevin Keller, 27, of Churchville, and $400,000 to Benjamin Martin, 23, of Warminster. Keller was hospitalized for almost a month in September 2002 after developing a stubborn, antibiotic-resistant staph infection known as MRSA. A year earlier, Martin had been hospitalized for a similar infection. It had progressed so far by the time he was treated, the lawsuit said, that doctors feared they might have to amputate one of his legs. The jury ruled that the men's constitutional rights were violated by unsanitary conditions that caused or contributed to their infections, and by prison officials' failure to get them prompt and adequate treatment. The lawsuit accused the county of not isolating infected inmates, of not medically screening new inmates, and of providing only scant medical care "unless death appears imminent." Inmates who complained of medical problems, it said, were punished and isolated all at once - in solitary confinement. Still waiting to be tried are "seven or eight" other cases with similar claims brought by 17 plaintiffs, mostly former inmates and prison workers, said Martha Sperling, one of two Doylestown lawyers representing Keller and Martin. Also in the pipeline is a class action suit, on behalf of current Bucks inmates, over conditions at the county facility. "I hope and pray that the county will fix these problems," Sperling said. "They never wanted to listen, and I don't know why. I just hope it never happens again." The county plans to appeal. "We do not believe the evidence supports the verdict for either plaintiff, in any amount," said a statement issued by county solicitor Guy Matthews. Once widely praised, the Bucks County prison has been tainted in recent years by scandal and litigation. A county grand jury investigation exposed lax security that enabled smuggling of drugs and contraband. Several prison workers were convicted of sexually assaulting female inmates. An investigator brought in to root out corruption wound up in prison on drug charges. Health concerns also exploded. After a federal magistrate ordered medical testing of inmates and workers in 2002, dozens of MRSA infections were found. |
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This article exposed what it is like to exist in today’s correctional institutions. I enjoy reading articles like this one and articles from author Hamilton Lindley who is an expert at persuasion, influence and leadership from his Waco, Texas base. There are a lot of important lessons to be learned here for sure. Thank you for the insight.