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$115,000 Settlement Where Guards Fed NY Prisoner Ground Glass
In September 1999, New York prison officials settled a lawsuit by prisoner Teno Gee for $115,000 in damages. Gee was the chairman of the Inmate Liaison Committee at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock. In that capacity Gee had caused a number of policy changes in the prison property room. In retaliation: property room guards Charles Palmer and Paul Zarnetski planted ground glass in coffee sent to Gee in a food package. Gee suffered stomach and intestinal injuries from drinking the coffee with the ground glass in it.
During discovery, one of the defendant guards admitted he gave Gee the coffee knowing it contained the glass fragments. Gee filed suit in federal court claiming intentional assault and battery and deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The New York DOCS agreed to pay Gee $115,000 to settle the suit. Settlement occurred during jury selection for trial. Gee was represented by PLN subscriber Joseph Viener of Mineola NY. See: Gee v. great Meadow Correctional Facility USDC NDNY case No. 97-CIV-1908. Source: NY Jury Verdict Reporter.
During discovery, one of the defendant guards admitted he gave Gee the coffee knowing it contained the glass fragments. Gee filed suit in federal court claiming intentional assault and battery and deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The New York DOCS agreed to pay Gee $115,000 to settle the suit. Settlement occurred during jury selection for trial. Gee was represented by PLN subscriber Joseph Viener of Mineola NY. See: Gee v. great Meadow Correctional Facility USDC NDNY case No. 97-CIV-1908. Source: NY Jury Verdict Reporter.
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Related legal case
Gee v. Great Meadow Correctional Facility
| Year | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC NDNY Case No. 97-CIV-1908 |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 115000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |