A former Sussex County jail inmate has filed a lawsuit against seven corrections officers who allegedly beat him twice — once in a cold shower while he was shackled — and restrained him for 19 hours in a chair known as the "happy chair."
The alleged attack on Robert Norman, 27, formerly of Sussex Borough, occurred Oct. 4 after Norman saw another inmate in the restraint chair and tried to talk to him, according to the lawsuit filed by Norman’s attorney, Jeffrey Patti, in U.S. District Court in Newark.
The "defendants’ unlawful and inappropriate use of the restraint chair on plaintiff was solely for the purpose of punishment and intimidation," in violation of its permitted use, according to the lawsuit.
"This was an instance of torture," said Patti, a veteran civil rights activist who has filed an array of lawsuits on behalf of inmates at the county jail.
Sheriff Michael Strada, who said he had not yet seen the lawsuit and could not comment on its specifics, said the restraint chair is not used to punish inmates.
"The chair is used for his (an inmate’s) protection or for the protection of other nearby inmates and guards," said Strada, who took office Jan. 1.
After Norman talked to the other inmate, seven officers entered Norman’s cell, sprayed Mace in his face and punched and kicked him about the face and body, the lawsuit states. Then Norman’s hands were cuffed behind his back, his legs were put in shackles and he was taken to the shower where officers beat him again and ran cold water on him, according to the lawsuit.
The attack concluded with Norman being strapped for 19 hours in the chair, "affectionately known as the ‘happy chair’ among corrections staff," the lawsuit states.
Such chairs are commonly used in the state corrections system to restrain unruly inmates, Patti said.
At the time of the alleged attack, Norman was awaiting a transfer to a state prison, where he was to begin serving a five-year sentence on for shoplifting and resisting arrest. According to court records, Norman is also a sex offender who failed to notify authorities of his change of address. He is currently being held in the Albert C. Wagner Youth Corrections Facility in Bordentown.
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A former Sussex County jail inmate has filed a lawsuit against seven corrections officers who allegedly beat him twice — once in a cold shower while he was shackled — and restrained him for 19 hours in a chair known as the "happy chair."
ReplyDeleteThe alleged attack on Robert Norman, 27, formerly of Sussex Borough, occurred Oct. 4 after Norman saw another inmate in the restraint chair and tried to talk to him, according to the lawsuit filed by Norman’s attorney, Jeffrey Patti, in U.S. District Court in Newark.
The "defendants’ unlawful and inappropriate use of the restraint chair on plaintiff was solely for the purpose of punishment and intimidation," in violation of its permitted use, according to the lawsuit.
"This was an instance of torture," said Patti, a veteran civil rights activist who has filed an array of lawsuits on behalf of inmates at the county jail.
Sheriff Michael Strada, who said he had not yet seen the lawsuit and could not comment on its specifics, said the restraint chair is not used to punish inmates.
"The chair is used for his (an inmate’s) protection or for the protection of other nearby inmates and guards," said Strada, who took office Jan. 1.
After Norman talked to the other inmate, seven officers entered Norman’s cell, sprayed Mace in his face and punched and kicked him about the face and body, the lawsuit states. Then Norman’s hands were cuffed behind his back, his legs were put in shackles and he was taken to the shower where officers beat him again and ran cold water on him, according to the lawsuit.
The attack concluded with Norman being strapped for 19 hours in the chair, "affectionately known as the ‘happy chair’ among corrections staff," the lawsuit states.
Such chairs are commonly used in the state corrections system to restrain unruly inmates, Patti said.
At the time of the alleged attack, Norman was awaiting a transfer to a state prison, where he was to begin serving a five-year sentence on for shoplifting and resisting arrest. According to court records, Norman is also a sex offender who failed to notify authorities of his change of address. He is currently being held in the Albert C. Wagner Youth Corrections Facility in Bordentown.