Robert Blackstock agreed to an undisclosed settlement in his federal lawsuit against private prison company CoreCivic (formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America). The prisoner alleged medical indifference after staff and medical personnel refused to provide his required medications at Winn Parish Correctional Facility.

In 2002, Blackstock had been diagnosed with brain-stem hemangioma with resultant spastic quadriplegia. He was placed on several medications to control his condition. After entering the privately run facility on December 10, 2007, his required medications were refused on the grounds that they were not approved for the facility and/or they were not necessary.

Blackstock filed numerous medication requests and medical grievances, with only sporadic results. According to Blackstock, his condition deteriorated, he was in constant pain, and he was unable to handle basic tasks.

On October 16, 2008, Blackstock filed a complaint in federal court against CoreCivic Warden Tim Wilkinson, Assistant Warden Angel Martin, Medical Director Pat Thomas, Dr. Alphonso Pacheco, registered nurse Angelina Davis-Woods, and nurse practitioner Kathy Richardson.

Blackstock argued that his Eighth Amendment right to necessary medical care was violated when prison staff acted with deliberate indifference to his medical needs. He also asserted that CoreCivic failed to ensure its medical staff was in compliance with state and federal law.

On March 28, 2011, Wilkinson was dismissed from the case, and the remaining defendants reached a settlement. The case was dismissed by Judge James T. Trimble, Jr., on January 26, 2012. Wood-Davis, Martin and Richardson were dismissed on March 6, and a judgment of dismissal was entered on March 9.

See: Blackstock v. Corrections Corporation of America, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, 1:08-cv-01557 (Mar. 5, 2012)

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