Jury returns verdict for inmate on claim of deliberate indifference

On November 17, 2015, a federal jury in Charleston, South Carolina  found in favor of Lavandre Dashaun Butler, an inmate at Lee Correctional Institution, who was attacked in 2012 when the defendant, a prison guard, failed to properly secure Mr. Butler’s cell door. Mr. Butler alleged that after he was attacked in his cell, he sought assistance from the defendant who failed to render assistance. Mr. Butler was attacked again and stabbed in the arm.

Mr. Butler claimed the defendant violated his Eighth Amendment rights by acting with deliberate indifference to his health and safety in response to a known threat from his attackers. The 10 person jury deliberated for just over three hours before returning a verdict awarding Mr. Butler $10,000 in compensatory damages and $40,000 in punitive damages.

Mr. Butler filed the action pro se and Chris Kenney of Richard A. Harpootlian, P.A. was appointed by the United States District Court to represent Mr. Butler.

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