NEW ORLEANS – An inmate claims that he was a victim of brutality from Washington Parish officers.
Richie L. Martin filed a lawsuit on Feb. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Randy Seal, as sheriff of Washington Parish; Jim Miller, as warden of Washington Parish Jail; James M. LeBlanc, as secretary of Louisiana Department of Corrections; Washington Sheriff's Deputy Steven Price; J. Doe 1 to 3 in their duties as Washington Sheriff Deputies; ABC Insurance Co.; and XYZ Insurance Co. for alleged violations of the Fourth, Sixth, and 14th Amendments.
Martin alleges that he was placed in the Avoyelles Correctional Center shortly before being placed in the custody of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office to be transferred to the Washington Parish Jail on Feb. 24, 2015. Martin attests he was to testify as a material witness to a murder case.
On Feb. 24, 2015, Martin claims that, while he was handcuffed, he was physically attacked by Price with strikes to the head and face in the presence of J. Doe 1 to 3. No measures were allegedly taken by the Does to prevent the altercation. Martin attests that, after the attack, he received limited and nominal medical care despite suffering embarrassment, humiliation, mental pain, panic attacks, medical expenses and other injuries.
Martin alleges that the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office and Jail failed to provide proper training to their deputies, failed to provide him proper medical care, failed to take steps to provide safe treatment for individuals incarcerated at the jail, and failed to properly supervise deputies. These actions, Martin contends, were all violations of his civil rights.
He is now suing for actual damages, medical treatment expenses, punitive damages, court costs including attorneys' fees, and any other reward deemed just by the court. He seeking a jury trial and is represented by Richard J. Richthofen of Richthofen & Associates LLC and James C. Lawrence Jr. of J.C. Lawrence and Associates in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-01576-ILRL-MBN