FJI Settles Case for Incarcerated Man Whose Hand Was Crushed by Guard’s Attack

While locked behind a steel door in his cell, an FDOC inmate put his arm outside of the door’s food flap to ask an officer about an upcoming medical appointment he had.  The officer ran over to the door and kicked the food flap shut, crushing the inmate’s hand, requiring surgery and months of physical therapy.  The officer was suspended for 30 days.  The inmate filed a pro se lawsuit and ably represented himself for years as the case was transferred from one venue to another.  When the case was finally set for trial, FJI was contacted through the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and ultimately negotiated a settlement on his behalf.