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Articles by David Reutter

Indiana Supreme Court Defines “Infamous Crime,” Holds Convicts Can Be Disenfranchised During Incarceration

Indiana Supreme Court Defines “Infamous Crime,” Holds Convicts Can Be Disenfranchised During Incarceration

by David Reutter

In answering a certified question from a federal district court, the Indiana Supreme Court departed from established precedent and redefined what constitutes an “infamous crime” that a person for which a person can be ...

Texas Cops Granted Qualified Immunity for False Arrest, Malicious Prosecution

Texas Cops Granted Qualified Immunity for False Arrest, Malicious Prosecution

by David Reutter

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the grant of summary judgment to two police officers sued for false arrest and malicious prosecution by two men who spent nine-months in jail for murder. The Court, however, reversed ...

$25,000 Jury Award in Missouri Prisoner’s Failure to Protect Claim

$25,000 Jury Award in Missouri Prisoner’s Failure to Protect Claim

by David Reutter

A Missouri federal jury awarded a prisoner $25,000 in a failure to protect case. The district court also awarded $23,401.05 in attorney fees and costs.

Missouri prisoner Christopher Prosser was placed in administrative segregation after the Superintendent ...

Arkansas Prisoner’s Suit Based on Classification Status Dismissed

Arkansas Prisoner’s Suit Based on Classification Status Dismissed

by David Reutter

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner’s lawsuit for being barred by sovereign immunity and for failure to state a cause of action on which relief could be granted. The dismissal counts as a “strike” against ...

$1.75 Million Settlement in Michigan Detainee’s Heroin Withdrawal Death

$1.75 Million Settlement in Michigan Detainee’s Heroin Withdrawal Death

by David M. Reutter

A $1.75 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by the estate of a pre-trial detainee who died as a result of heroin withdrawal after being denied medical care.

In the days leading up to and ...

Arbitrator’s Award on Pay Raises for Prison Guards Costs Pennsylvania County $5 Million

Arbitrator’s Award on Pay Raises for Prison Guards Costs Pennsylvania County $5 Million

by David M. Reutter

Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County Commission has been forced to dip into its reserve funds to comply with an “unaccountable” arbitration award that resulted in a 7% annual pay increase for the county’s prison guards. ...

BOP Settles Medical Negligence Claim for $600,000

BOP Settles Medical Negligence Claim for $600,000

by David M. Reutter

The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) paid $600,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging officials at USP Coleman Low caused a prisoner to suffer permanent injuries due to their negligent provision of medical care.

BOP prisoner Robert Lee Hernandez arrived ...

Feds and Tennessee Officials Investigate Prisoners Using Facebook

Feds and Tennessee Officials Investigate Prisoners Using Facebook

by David Reutter

The Bureau of Prisons is investigating two prisoners who were discovered using Facebook to “broadcast live” from a federal facility in Atlanta, where they are serving time on drug and weapons charges. The probe was initiated following a November ...

Sixth Circuit: Group Strip Searches and Delousing at Ohio Jail State Claim

Sixth Circuit: Group Strip Searches and Delousing at Ohio Jail State Claim

by David Reutter

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a proposed class-action complaint filed on behalf of pretrial detainees at the Cleveland House of Correction, which alleged it was unreasonable for the jail to 1) ...

$71,000 Settlement in Iowa Prisoner’s Sexual Harassment Claim

$71,000 Settlement in Iowa Prisoner’s Sexual Harassment Claim

by David M. Reutter

A former Iowa prisoner received a $71,000 settlement after being sexually harassed at her prison job in a case that established prisoners have civil rights protections with respect to employment under Iowa state law.

While incarcerated at the ...