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| New Mexico inmate's family sues prison firm, state officials |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/02/2001 |
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The family of an Albuquerque man who was killed two years ago inside a privately run prison in southern New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against state officials and the company in charge of the lockup. Richard Garcia's relatives claim prison officials knowingly created dangerous conditions that led to his death. The lawsuit, filed recently in federal court, names Wackenhut Corrections Corp., a Florida-based company that owns and operates the Lea County Correctional Facility; Gov. Gary Johnson; Corrections Secretary Rob Perry; and several prison officials. Santa Fe attorneys Mark Donatelli and Robert Rothstein, who are representing the Garcia family, are seeking unspecified damages. State and Wackenhut officials said Monday they could not comment on the pending lawsuit. Garcia, 47, was in an isolation cell in June 1999 when an officer opened the door, allegedly allowing two inmates to enter and stab Garcia 50 times. Inmates Paul Payne, 27, and John Price, 29, were charged with capital murder in Garcia's death. Price pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Payne's trial is set for November. According to the lawsuit, state and Wackenhut officials knew Payne and Price were violent offenders with a history of armed attacks on other prisoners. Despite their histories, the lawsuit says the two inmates were appointed as trustees in the administrative segregation unit where Garcia was housed. Garcia, who had been serving a term for aggravated battery, was to have been released this year. |
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