Lawsuit filed against SCI, correctional officers

A federal lawsuit has been filed against correctional officers at Sussex Correctional Institution and the institution itself by two men who claim they were beaten and pepper sprayed in separate incidents while at SCI.

The first incident listed in the lawsuit occurred on Sept. 18 when inmate Isaac Montague was waiting to use the free prison phone, and an officer told him to return to his prison cell for lock-in. The lawsuit describes an exchange between the men that resulted in Montague face down in his cell with four correctional officers beating him, and one who sprayed pepper spray into Montague’s mouth. 

“The defendants’ assault was so severe that Plaintiff Montague could not walk when defendants finally halted the beatings,” the lawsuit states.

He was then sent to isolation for 21 days, the lawsuit states. 

According to the lawsuit, the incident left Montague with a scar on his face, a hurt shoulder, and head pains. He did not receive adequate medical attention, and his attempt to file grievances was ignored or disregarded, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit describes a similar exchange a month later on Oct. 18 between inmate William Davis and correctional officers. In this incident, the lawsuit states, Davis was in SCI even though a court had ordered his release, and when Davis questioned his status, he was berated and beaten, and pepper spray was shot up his nose.

“The pepper spray caused such extreme pain and harm that Plaintiff Davis formed the belief that he was going to die and began to have severe difficulty breathing,” the lawsuit states. “When the nozzle broke off the pepper spray and began to spew on the defendants, they finally stopped assaulting Plaintiff Davis.”

The lawsuit states Davis did not receive adequate medical treatment at SCI; he was released the next morning and his mother took him to an emergency room where he was treated for substantial injuries to his head and brain. The lawsuit states Davis continues to suffer from his injuries and needs medical care.

The lawsuit accuses SCI and its correctional officers of violating Davis and Montague’s 14th Amendment protection against excessive force and cruel and unusual punishment, and the 4th Amendment protection against unlawful searches and seizures. The eight-count lawsuit includes charges of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional stress, and violations of the law of dignity.

Attorney Daniel Griffith is representing Davis, who now lives in Bear, and Montague, still an inmate at SCI, who are seeking compensation, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and any other relief the court deems fit. The American Civil Liberties Union Delaware is also listed in support of the lawsuit.