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Washington DOC Pays $1,700 in Faulty Kettle Claim

On December 6th, 1989 Alvin Lee Prater, then a prisoner confined at McNeil Island Corrections Center in Steilacoom, Washington, suffered a fall that injured both his right knee and lower back. Prater was working in the institution's kitchen when he was ordered (by staff) to extract juice from a steam kettle.

The kettle, being faulty, tipped towards Prater as he extracted the juice. Prater, in fear and seeking to protect himself, jumped back to avoid the falling kettle. Prater then slipped and fell, landing on his right knee. Prater later learned that the kettle was known for being faulty.

In 1992 Prater's physician, a medical provider at MICC suggested that an arthroscopic surgery be done. In 1992, while at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, Prater finally received the surgery (after enduring quite a hassle). Afterwards Prater would still suffer pains. In 1992 Prater filed suit claiming that the Washington Department of Correction's negligence in the faulty maintenance of the kettle led to his injuries, and in 1995 Prater, represented by James A. Lanza from Bellevue., was paid $1,700 by the Washington DOC. See: Prater v. Washington State Department of Corrections, Superior Court of Washington for County of Thurston No. 92-2-03054-1.

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Related legal case

Prater v. Washington State Dept of Corrections