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Family sues agencies over boot camp death

M

myjaja

Diamond Member
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The family of a 14-year-old boy who died hours after being manhandled by guards at a juvenile boot camp sued two agencies Wednesday, seeking more than $40 million in damages.

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Ben Crump, who represents the family of Martin Lee Anderson, filed the lawsuit against the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Bay County Sheriff's Office, which ran the camp under contract with the state.

Sheriff's officials rejected an offer to settle for its insurance policy limit of $3 million, Crump said.

The boy's January death led to protests in the Capitol and at Gov. Jeb Bush's office, the resignation of the head of the state's law enforcement agency, and a law to eliminate military-style boot camps. The teen died in Pensacola after his videotaped ordeal with guards in the Panama City boot camp.

"A video proves that as seven guards punished Martin by kicking, punching, kneeing, choking and slamming him while they jammed ammonia tablets up his nose and covered his mouth, a nurse watched him slip in and out of consciousness," Crump said at a news conference. "These heinous, malicious and torturous treatments led to his death."

Anthony Schembri, secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, said he could not comment on pending litigation. But he added: "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of Martin Lee Anderson."

Sheriff Frank McKeithen said no settlement has been reached because the investigation is still pending. A special prosecutor is still trying to determine whether to charge any of the guards.

Crump said he based the $40 million figure largely on a similar Texas case in which a jury in 2003 awarded a family $40.1 million after an 18-year-old died after two months in a boot camp. The teen had been forced to complete intense physical programs despite his pleas for medical help.

The teen in the current case collapsed after an intense workout at the Florida camp, where he was sent for a probation violation for trespassing at a school. He and his cousins had been charged with stealing their grandmother's car from a church parking lot.

An initial autopsy found his death was caused by complications of a usually harmless blood disorder. His body was later exhumed and a second autopsy concluded he died of suffocation when guards covered his mouth while forcing ammonia capsules up his nose trying to revive him.

Waylon Graham, the attorney for Lt. Charles Helms, the highest-ranking officer who was on the exercise yard with the teen, questioned the family's motives in suing.

"None of these officers set out to harm this young man in any way," Graham said. "I think this has turned into a game of money."
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:Q
 
I heard about this a while ago. I'm not sure they're in the right, but it did highlight the fact that boot camps are pretty worthless. At least that's the figures I heard quoted. Recidivism is in line with non-boot camp attendees.
 
i've seen the video, and it was terrible, an obvious abuse of authority and all that were a part of it should be fired and face criminal charges
 
When I first saw the figures, I thought it was just a money grab.

But if the video really shows that, I think the deserve to take those agencies to the cleaners.

Hard to believe they're still only considering charges.
 
I saw the video of this beating and the family is well within their rights to sue for every GD penny they can get out of the state of Fl.
 
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
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Yes, because juvenile auto theft should certainly be punished by death.
 
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Rapists, murderers, and other assorted felons get better treatment in prison than it seems kids do in boot camps. I'm all for making boot camps illegal.
 
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Rapists, murderers, and other assorted felons get better treatment in prison than it seems kids do in boot camps. I'm all for making boot camps illegal.
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Juvenile treatment is tricky business.
 
old old news. but then again I've heard about it cause i live in tallahassee. there was even a march here at fsu.
 
Originally posted by: ruffilb
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Rapists, murderers, and other assorted felons get better treatment in prison than it seems kids do in boot camps. I'm all for making boot camps illegal.
Click to expand...

Juvenile treatment is tricky business.
Click to expand...

If by "tricky" you mean cruel, I agree.
 
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Yes, because juvenile auto theft should certainly be punished by death.
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What kind of bastard steals cars at the age of 14? Firing squad FTW!
 


Billy Bob: We'll teach this punk some discipline
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: We'll kick some sense into him
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: We'll punch the snot out of him
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: Get up punk...hmm....who said you could stop breathing...oh crap
Jim Bob: That's not right

Enter David Curuso from CSI, hands on hips, sunglasses on.

Curuso: Gentlemen that's not discipline that's murder

Queue Who song: YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH won't get fooled agian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Rapists, murderers, and other assorted felons get better treatment in prison than it seems kids do in boot camps. I'm all for making boot camps illegal.
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They have already been outlawed in Florida because of this incident.
 
they had part of the tape on CNN a while back. i can't blame the family for sueing. what they did was torture.
 
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons


Billy Bob: We'll teach this punk some discipline
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: We'll kick some sense into him
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: We'll punch the snot out of him
Jim Bob: Yeah that's right
Billy Bob: Get up punk...hmm....who said you could stop breathing...oh crap
Jim Bob: That's not right

Enter David Curuso from CSI, hands on hips, sunglasses on.

Curuso: Gentlemen that's not discipline that's murder

Queue Who song: YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH won't get fooled agian !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

:Q they still showing csi miami????? do'h!
 
As much as I support getting every damn penny out of them, how exactly do singular incidents warrant banning them in the entire state? I'm sure there were plenty that were operated very cleanly and appropriately. Not to mention they should be pressing for murder/manslaughter charges on the guards. Unless it was long running and continually allowed by the distraction it can?t really be their fault either.
 
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: ruffilb
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Baked
<--- controls self from making comment about why the kid ended up in boot camp in the 1st place.
Click to expand...

Rapists, murderers, and other assorted felons get better treatment in prison than it seems kids do in boot camps. I'm all for making boot camps illegal.
Click to expand...

Juvenile treatment is tricky business.
Click to expand...

If by "tricky" you mean cruel, I agree.
Click to expand...

tricky as in: how do you punish the kid who shoplifted vs. the kid who raped a 13 y/o? we can't stick the rapist in adult, FPMITAPs because they're so-called "minors."
 
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