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$10,000 Settlement for Failure to Protect DC Prisoner and Deliberate Indifference to His Medical Needs
The District of Columbia (DC) paid $10,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by prisoner Aloyouis Chelsey for injuries sustained at DC’s Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), which is operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).
Chelsey advised a guard on May 2, 2001, that he had been verbally and physically threatened by fellow prisoners Antjuan Pearson and Tyron Mabry, and he filed a grievance to that effect. Despite being advised that Pearson and Mabry may stab Chelsey, no action was taken to protect him.
Later that afternoon, Pearson, who had a broom handle, and Mabry, wielding a shower rod, attacked Chelsey. The complaint alleged there was a practice at CTF of allowing prisoners to fight so long as they did not use weapons. In accord with that practice, Guard C. Hicks did not call for backup, call a code, or attempt to break up the fight.
Hicks did manage to get the broom stick, and Pearson and Mabry retreated into Pearson’s cell where they continued to threaten Chelsey. No incident report was written or supervisors alerted to the incident.
On May 7, 2001, Chelsey was again attacked by Pearson, Mabry, and prisoner Kevin Bellinger. Chelsey ended up with a stab wound in his left cheek and a torn left bicep muscle before guards finally took control. Chelsey was not provided care for the torn bicep by the medical provider, Prison Health Services, until four months later.
His complaint alleged civil rights violations for the failure to protect and deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. On March 20, 2005, Chelsey accepted settlement. He was represented by Washington, DC attorney, Richard Seligman. See: Chelsey v. District of Columbia, Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-276.
Chelsey advised a guard on May 2, 2001, that he had been verbally and physically threatened by fellow prisoners Antjuan Pearson and Tyron Mabry, and he filed a grievance to that effect. Despite being advised that Pearson and Mabry may stab Chelsey, no action was taken to protect him.
Later that afternoon, Pearson, who had a broom handle, and Mabry, wielding a shower rod, attacked Chelsey. The complaint alleged there was a practice at CTF of allowing prisoners to fight so long as they did not use weapons. In accord with that practice, Guard C. Hicks did not call for backup, call a code, or attempt to break up the fight.
Hicks did manage to get the broom stick, and Pearson and Mabry retreated into Pearson’s cell where they continued to threaten Chelsey. No incident report was written or supervisors alerted to the incident.
On May 7, 2001, Chelsey was again attacked by Pearson, Mabry, and prisoner Kevin Bellinger. Chelsey ended up with a stab wound in his left cheek and a torn left bicep muscle before guards finally took control. Chelsey was not provided care for the torn bicep by the medical provider, Prison Health Services, until four months later.
His complaint alleged civil rights violations for the failure to protect and deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. On March 20, 2005, Chelsey accepted settlement. He was represented by Washington, DC attorney, Richard Seligman. See: Chelsey v. District of Columbia, Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-276.
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Related legal case
Chelsey v. District of Columbia
| Year | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Superior Court, District of Columbia, Case No. 04-276 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 10,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |