×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Florida Jail Death Ruled a Homicide; Investigations Pending
Loaded on Nov. 15, 2009
published in Prison Legal News
November, 2009, page 43
The Florida Medical Examiner’s Office called the March 31, 2009 in-custody death of 62-year-old Nicholas Christie at the Lee County Jail a homicide, finding that restraint methods and pepper spray were contributing factors in his death.“You could tell immediately there was something wrong with the guy,” said jail prisoner …
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- Pennsylvania County Prisons Mired in Conditions Litigation, by David Reutter
- $395,000 Settlement in Los Angeles Jail Prisoner’s Lung Infection Death
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Prison Radio Beams Love, Hope and News through the Bars, by Matthew Clarke
- $1.55 Million Awarded in Female Colorado DOC Prisoner’s Rape by Guard, by Mark Wilson
- Indiana DOC Directive Limiting Educational Credit to Only One Associate’s Degree Violates Ex Post Facto Clause, by Brandon Sample
- Texas Jail Strip Search Policy Unconstitutional, by Brandon Sample
- American Methods: Torture and the Logic of Domination, by Kristian Williams, South End Press, 279 pages, by David Preston
- Indiana Supreme Court Holds Sex Offender Registration Act Unconstitutional When Applied Retroactively
- Privatized Prison Medical Care in Mississippi Still Problematic, by David Reutter
- Texas Grand Jury Rules Jail Guards Not Negligent in Prisoner’s Death, by Gary Hunter
- Justice Reinvestment Initiative Eliminates Texas Prison Overcrowding, by Matthew Clarke
- CRIPA Investigation Finds “Woefully Inadequate” Conditions in Erie County, NY Jails; Lawsuits Filed, by Jimmy Franks
- $250,000 Awarded to Former New York Prisoner Wrongly Convicted by Falsified Evidence, by David Reutter
- Former PA Lawmaker Who Took Sex Offenders into His Home Files Suit Against Zoning Board
- $170,000 in Settlements to Sacramento Jail Prisoner Sexually Abused by Guards
- $1 Million Settlement in Washington DOC Staff Sexual Abuse Suit of Women Prisoners
- U.S. Senator John Ensign, Author of Ensign Amendment, Falls From Grace, by Brandon Sample
- Former North Dakota State Psychologist Who Treated Sex Offenders Busted for Child Porn
- $73,000 Settlement for Denial of Pain Medication to Wisconsin Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Revised List of ICE Detainee Deaths Still Incomplete, Updated Again, by Mark Wilson
- Colorado Officials Increasingly Rely on Lockdowns to Manage Prison Violence, by Michael Brodheim
- California’s Lethal Injection Protocol Invalidated for Failure to Comply with APA, by Michael Brodheim
- Medical Care Mismanaged at Orange County, California Jail, by Michael Brodheim
- Divided Ninth Circuit Holds Prison Officials Entitled to Qualified Immunity for Prolonged Deprivation of Outdoor Exercise
- 1 in Every 31 Adults Under Some Form of Correctional Restraint, by David Reutter
- California Death Row Court Monitoring Discontinued, by Michael Brodheim
- PLN Sues Virginia DOC Over Censorship, Due Process Violations
- Human Rights Study Shows That Decades Later Blacks Still Incarcerated More, by Gary Hunter
- Problems Persist at Lucas County, Ohio Jail
- Questionable Kentucky Courthouse Construction Practices Lead to Court Official’s Resignation, Audit, Settlement, by Michael Brodheim
- North Carolina Courts, Legislature Take Steps to Resume Executions, by Michael Brodheim
- California Budget Cuts Lead to Closure of Two Parolee Residential Centers
- Florida to Allow Exportation of Prisoners to Other States, by David Reutter
- Georgia Attorneys Abandoning Indigent Defendants, by David Reutter
- Massachusetts Prison Officials Assault Prisoner With Feces, Settle Lawsuit for $5,000
- Orange County Sheriff Sentenced to 5½ Years in Prison, by Gary Hunter
- Outgoing Mail Censorship Assessed Under Procunier, not Turner; Oregon Court Applies Wrong Standard
- Ohio Prison Guards Party, Federal Stimulus Funds Save Their Jobs, by David Reutter
- $21 Million Jury Award for Illinois Wrongful Conviction, by David Reutter
- Oklahoma Legislators Not Considering Closing State Prisons, Unless They Are, by Matthew T. Clarke
- Terms of Parole Injunction Supersede Conflicting Provisions of California Voter Initiative, by Michael Brodheim
- Pennsylvania Private Juvenile Prison Scandal Results in Guilty Pleas, by Matthew Clarke
- Florida Jail Death Ruled a Homicide; Investigations Pending
- Indiana Sex Offender Residency Restriction Violates Ex Post Facto Clause
- Former Mississippi DOC Chief Medical Officer Charged with Embezzlement
- Wisconsin Courts Sealing Cases, by David Reutter
- Illinois Governor’s Failure to Act on Clemency Petitions Not Actionable, by Brandon Sample
- $5.9 Million Settlement in Philadelphia Jail Strip Search Class Action
- Ninth Circuit: “Three Strike” Conviction Does Not Allow Use of Old Offenses for Impeachment Purposes in § 1983 Suit; Heck Does Not Bar Admission of Evidence, by John Dannenberg
- Texas Supreme Court: Prisoner May Appeal Despite Incomplete Indigence Affidavit, by Matthew Clarke
- Black Drug Incarceration Drops 21.6%, White Rate Up 42.6%; Shift Driven by Decreasing Crack Cocaine Use, Increasing Meth Use, by Mark Wilson
- Refusal to Mail Nebraska Prisoner’s Artwork Violates First Amendment
- News in Brief:
More from these topics:
- America’s Deadliest Jails: Tarrant County Edition, Nov. 1, 2025. Wrongful Death, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- Suit Filed Over Fatal Beating of New York Prisoner That Sparked Massive Guard Strike, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Male Reproductive, Malpractice, Escapes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Ninth Circuit Agrees That Former Guantanamo Detainee Lacks Grounds to Sue for Waterboarding, Aug. 1, 2025. War on Terror, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Terrorism.
- Multiple Prisoner Suits Accuse Guards of Violence at Virginia BOP Lockup, Aug. 1, 2025. Racial Discrimination, False Charges (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Discrimination (Transgender).
- SCOTUS Clamps Down on Bivens Extension to Prisoner Beaten by BOP Guards at Virginia Lockup, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Immunity - Absolute and Qualified, Bivens Actions.
- Delaware’s ACLU Files Action on Behalf Of Six Prisoners Assaulted During Midnight Raid, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints.
- Beyond the City Limits: How Rural Sheriff’s Departments Are Driving the Spike in Police Killings, Aug. 1, 2025. Excessive Force, Shootings, Police--Excessive Force, Excessive Force (Police).
- News in Brief, July 15, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Failure to Protect (General), Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, halfway houses, New Trial/Judgment of Acquittal, Bribery/Extortion/Theft, Fraud and Deceit.

