Female Inmate Files Federal Claim After Beating from Male Guards
Inmates generally do not make sympathetic plaintiffs, yet they are more vulnerable than almost any other population. U.S. law holds that U.S. prisons are solely responsible for the health and wellbeing of the inmates they hold. When an inmate is denied medical treatment, severely abused, or otherwise injured in a prison, they are entitled to recover damages related to those injuries.
That being said, many personal injury lawyers don’t want to take these cases on. Part of arguing a successful personal injury case involves the jury being sympathetic toward the plaintiff. Plaintiff’s attorneys are often caught in the position of appealing to the rational parts of the juror’s brains, explaining how the law applies to inmates, the duties of the prison, and that, regardless of your crimes, you still have rights under the law. Meanwhile, the defense can appeal to the jury’s bias against inmates, argue that they had it coming, or otherwise don’t deserve the jury’s sympathy.
All of this will come into play when a white female inmate in Orlando tries her case against the Florida penal system after being beaten to within an inch of her life.
Male Guards Beat Female Inmate
According to the lawsuit, several male guards severely beat a female inmate who was seeking medical attention. The plaintiff, Cheryl Weimar, suffered life-threatening injuries, including a broken neck, and is now completely paralyzed as a result of the beating. Her attorneys maintain that she will require round-the-clock care for the rest of her life. Weimer was sentenced to six years in prison after she slashed her then-boyfriend with a knife.
According to the lawsuit, Weimar was asked to clean a toilet. She protested, saying that she has a physical disability involving her hip and that she was unable to do so. She requested “reasonable accommodation” for her disability and was denied. This prompted a confrontation with the guards.
According to the complaint, the more Weimar complained about her physical issues, the angrier the guards became. This culminated in a beating that left her paralyzed for life. She was beaten with repeated blows to the head, neck, and back. The guards dragged her by the foot to a wheelchair where her head struck the ground several times. The plaintiff alleges that they continued to beat her in an area that was not monitored by security cameras. This beating left her a quadriplegic.
The Prison Responds
The prison, when reached for comment, agreed that the preliminary aspects of the allegations were concerning and that the guards have been reassigned to positions where they have no contact with inmates pending the results of the investigation.
On the other hand, the state moved to block the judge from photographing and taking video of the plaintiff’s injuries citing a “security risk”. The judge has given them a deadline after which the plaintiff’s injuries can be documented.
Talk to a Miami Personal Injury Attorney Today
Those injured by negligence or malice have recourse to recover damages related to their injuries. Talk to the Miami personal injury attorneys at the office of Alan Goldfarb P.A. today for a free consultation.
Resource:
foxnews.com/us/florida-prison-guard-beating-attack-lawsuit
https://www.goldfarbpa.com/man-stabbed-in-bar-fight-sues-bar/