Violence

Justice Department Supports Alabama Prisoners’ Claims of Unconstitutional Violence in Ongoing Legal Battle

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Increased scrutiny surrounds Alabama’s correctional system as the U.S. Department of Justice opposed the state’s motion for summary judgment in an ongoing legal dispute over alleged unconstitutional violence in state prisons. Federal authorities argue there are substantial claims of systematic abuse that warrant a trial. Prisoners at the St. Clair Correctional Facility initiated a lawsuit in 2014, claiming they were victims of relentless violence and excessive force by guards. The facility, a maximum-security prison, currently confines about 1,000 male inmates. The allegations extend to cover not only staff misconduct but also rampant … Read more

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against McAllen PD in Case of Kidnapped and Murdered Domestic Violence Victim

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McAllen, Texas — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the family of a Texas woman who was tragically abducted and murdered, after allegedly not being adequately protected by local police despite multiple reports of domestic violence. The lawsuit accused the McAllen Police Department of failing to enforce a protective order that could have possibly prevented her death. Melissa Banda was abducted and killed by her ex-husband, Richard Ford, on August 6, 2020. Prior instances where Banda reported violations of a protective order against Ford were cited in the legal action. Ford was … Read more

Federal Court Reinstates Millions in Damages Against White Supremacists for Charlottesville Rally Violence

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Richmond, Va. — A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a previous decision that had substantially reduced the damages awarded to plaintiffs who suffered during the violent Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. The court’s decision reinstates over $2 million in damages, initially granted by a jury to victims who endured physical and emotional distress caused by prominent white supremacists and hate groups. In 2021, a jury awarded $24 million in total damages to eight plaintiffs for the hardships endured during the rally. However, this amount was later cut down by a judge … Read more

Court Increases Financial Penalty for White Nationalists to $2 Million Over Charlottesville Rally Violence

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Charlottesville, Va. — A Virginia judge has mandated that prominent white nationalists, including some organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally, pay an additional $2 million in punitive damages. This decision escalates the financial repercussions stemming from their roles in the violent events that disrupted Charlottesville, resulting in widespread injury and the death of one woman. The order, issued by Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Richard E. Moore, supplements an earlier ruling where the defendants were already found liable for planning and participating in the rally which turned calamitously violent. This new penalty brings their … Read more