Death Row Death By Beating Is Basis For Lawsuit Against Former Head Of Florida Prisons

Bob Carroll

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Even a death row inmate in America is entitled to protection from violence and a violation of his constitutional rights. That is the court ruling reported by the Daily Comet.

Former head of Florida prisons can be sued for death of inmate

A federal appeals court ruled that relatives of a death row inmate who died after a confrontation with prison guards can sue the former head of Florida's prisons.

Former Corrections Secretary James Crosby, and the guards accused of fatally beating Frank Valdes on death row at Florida State Prison in Starke, were sued by Valdes' family. The guards were acquitted in 2002 of murdering Valdes.

A three judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled May 31 that Valdes' father, Mario Valdes, can continue with a civil lawsuit against Crosby to determine if Crosby knew, or should have known, that violence was common at the prison.

The evidence "is sufficient to allow a jury to consider whether Crosby had established customs and policies that resulted in deliberate indifference to constitutional violations and whether Crosby failed to take reasonable measures," the ruling said.