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Utah Strip Search Suit Settled

On January 21, 1998, the Utah Department of Corrections settled a strip search lawsuit with prisoner David Hansen. Hansen had filed suit claiming his Fourth amendment rights were violated when he was handcuffed and subjected to a strip search where prison guards manipulated his testicles and buttocks. Hansen also claimed his Eighth amendment rights were violated when he was denied exercise for prolonged periods of time while in segregation; had his food intentionally dropped into puddles of feces and urine by guards and he was placed in an extremely cold cell.

The court, in an unpublished ruling, denied the defendants summary judgment on these claims and held that a trial was required to resolve conflicting factual disputes. The parties settled shortly afterwards.

The Utah DOC paid Hansen $4,000 to dismiss the suit. The Utah DOC denied all liability arising from Hansen's suit. Hansen's attorney, Gregory Savage, agreed to waive his attorney fees in order to secure the settlement. Readers should note this is an unpublished settlement. See: Hansen v. Jorgensen , Case Number 91-CV-991. USDC Utah.

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Related legal case

Hansen v. Jorgensen