Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the largest private prison operator, and based in Nashville, Tennessee, is used to getting sued. In fact, they should expect it, since their business model largely consists of treating people like slaughterhouse cattle.

Among the most recent suits is one on behalf of a mentally ill man, who was denied medical care and mistreated because of his bipolar condition. From The Tennessean

According to a federal court lawsuit, Horton, who was being held on a probation violation, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was disciplined for abnormal behavior through prolonged cell restrictions instead of medical treatment, the lawsuit said.

I was recently just involved in a suit against CCA, which has been resolved. The plaintiff was originally an indigently appointed criminal client of mine, charged with a series of misdemeanors, but she was unable to make any bond. Once she was processed into the CCA system, it was discovered that she was pregnant. At approximately 22 weeks, she began to bleed. The medical staff at CCA gave her some pads, and told her to go back to her cell, because they didn’t believe her. She filled up half a dozen of them.

This happened numerous times, until she was tossed into a holding cell in the medical unit, where her water was turned off, because the “nurses” still didn’t believe her. The doctor was on vacation. She wasn’t taken to the hospital until her contractions began, where her child was born prematurely, and did not survive.

Civil rights violations and wrongful death occur at the hands of the government, and the prison system, more than a civilized society ought to tolerate.  Ignoring a pregnant woman is wrong. Mistreating and denying psychotropic medication to a mentally ill individual is wrong. Fortunately, there are remedies to correct these wrongs (as much as they can possibly be corrected), but you need a lawyer on your side to do it.

If you or someone you know has suffered at the hands of the state, local or federal government, please contact us immediately. We may be able to help.