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Toothache at privately run prison in Virginia leads to legal ache in federal court
Toothache at privately run prison in Virginia leads to legal ache in federal court
BY FRANK GREEN Richmond Times-Dispatch 1 hr ago
Conrad Burke had a temporary filling placed in a back tooth in January 2018, while being held at the Sussex I State Prison. Before it could be replaced with a permanent one, he was transferred to the Lawrenceville Correctional Center.
In April 2018, after arriving at Lawrenceville, the state's only privately-run prison, the temporary filling fell out. He sought help but was told in writing that the prison did not have a dentist - as was required under its contract with the state of Virginia.
For six months, he sought help as the pain grew. "It was unbearable, excruciating pain to the point where it felt like my head was about to fall off," Burke said Tuesday. "I couldn't even sleep ... eventually I would doze off but when I woke up it would still hurt. It was hurting around the clock."
Burke's lawyer, Victor Glasberg of Alexandria, and Burke's family contacted state officials attempting to win dental treatment, but nothing was done until Burke was transferred back to a state-run prison where the tooth had to be pulled that October.
Lawrenceville Correctional Center is operated by Geo Secure Services LLC, also known as Geo Corrections & Detention LLC, of Boca Raton, Fla. The company did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday, but in court pleadings admitted no wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, Glasberg filed suit in U.S. District Court against Geo and a state official on behalf of Burke, alleging cruel and unusual punishment and gross negligence. The case quickly headed to mediation, scheduled for later this month, and a settlement conference has been set by the court for Aug. 26.
"By their actions and inaction in question, defendants displayed deliberate indifference to Mr. Burke's serious dental needs, thereby causing him ongoing severe pain for almost half a year and ultimately the loss of a tooth - all so as to permit Geo to make more money by not spending it on dental services," alleges the suit.
{snip}
In its response to Burke's suit, Geo did not admit any wrongdoing and said that the contract speaks for itself.
{snip}
fgreen@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6340
BY FRANK GREEN Richmond Times-Dispatch 1 hr ago
Conrad Burke had a temporary filling placed in a back tooth in January 2018, while being held at the Sussex I State Prison. Before it could be replaced with a permanent one, he was transferred to the Lawrenceville Correctional Center.
In April 2018, after arriving at Lawrenceville, the state's only privately-run prison, the temporary filling fell out. He sought help but was told in writing that the prison did not have a dentist - as was required under its contract with the state of Virginia.
For six months, he sought help as the pain grew. "It was unbearable, excruciating pain to the point where it felt like my head was about to fall off," Burke said Tuesday. "I couldn't even sleep ... eventually I would doze off but when I woke up it would still hurt. It was hurting around the clock."
Burke's lawyer, Victor Glasberg of Alexandria, and Burke's family contacted state officials attempting to win dental treatment, but nothing was done until Burke was transferred back to a state-run prison where the tooth had to be pulled that October.
Lawrenceville Correctional Center is operated by Geo Secure Services LLC, also known as Geo Corrections & Detention LLC, of Boca Raton, Fla. The company did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday, but in court pleadings admitted no wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, Glasberg filed suit in U.S. District Court against Geo and a state official on behalf of Burke, alleging cruel and unusual punishment and gross negligence. The case quickly headed to mediation, scheduled for later this month, and a settlement conference has been set by the court for Aug. 26.
"By their actions and inaction in question, defendants displayed deliberate indifference to Mr. Burke's serious dental needs, thereby causing him ongoing severe pain for almost half a year and ultimately the loss of a tooth - all so as to permit Geo to make more money by not spending it on dental services," alleges the suit.
{snip}
In its response to Burke's suit, Geo did not admit any wrongdoing and said that the contract speaks for itself.
{snip}
fgreen@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6340