A harrowing case of alleged negligence and constitutional violations has been brought to light, highlighting the dangerous conditions at a Louisiana correctional facility. Sorita Elzey, acting as the guardian for Sedrick Elzey, filed a complaint on June 7, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against multiple defendants including Security Management, LLC and several high-ranking officials.
The lawsuit details the brutal beating of Sedrick Elzey while he was held at Madison Parish Correctional Center (MPCC). The complaint alleges that the facility, operated by Security Management, LLC under contract with Sheriff Sammie Byrd and overseen by officials from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPSC), failed to maintain safe conditions. According to Sorita Elzey, MPCC had no functional classification system or adequate staff supervision in place, leading to unchecked violence. As a result of these failures, Sedrick Elzey suffered severe injuries requiring intensive medical care.
The plaintiff's complaint outlines numerous instances where MPCC allegedly ignored mandatory guidelines meant to ensure prisoner safety. These guidelines include proper classification of inmates based on their custody needs and legal status, sufficient staffing levels, and thorough documentation of incidents within the facility. Despite these requirements, MPCC reportedly housed pre-trial detainees alongside sentenced prisoners without regard for their backgrounds or potential conflicts. This lack of oversight culminated in an attack on Sedrick Elzey by five other inmates shortly after his arrival at MPCC.
The lawsuit claims that both state and local officials were aware of the dangerous conditions at MPCC but failed to take corrective action. Reports detailing violent incidents and deaths within the facility were allegedly submitted to DPSC Chief of Operations Seth Smith and Secretary James LeBlanc. However, despite this knowledge, no significant measures were taken to address the rampant violence or improve inmate safety protocols.
Sorita Elzey is seeking declaratory relief along with compensatory and punitive damages for her son's suffering. The lawsuit also demands reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred during litigation. The case highlights broader systemic issues within Louisiana's correctional facilities where state-sentenced prisoners are often housed in local jails under inadequate conditions due to budget constraints and administrative oversights.
Representing Sorita Elzey are attorneys Elizabeth Cumming and Emily Washington from the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center in New Orleans along with Thomas W. Keilty III from Keilty Bonadio LLC in Baltimore. The case is being presided over by Judge Brian A. Jackson under Case ID 3:24-cv-00456-BAJ-EWD.