In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, nurse Meshea Rodgers is accusing the “operators of the privately run Wilkinson County Correctional Center in Woodville of negligence for not properly protecting her” when an inmate allegedly “threw boiling urine on her.” The incident resulted in “first-, second- and third-degree burns” for Rodgers, who was a licensed practical nurse at the facility back on July 26, 2016.The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Natchez against Management and Training Corp. (MTC), the organization that operates Wilkinson County Correctional Center. Shortly after the lawsuit announcement, Issa Arnita, a spokesman for MTC said:“while MTC cannot comment on the specifics of the litigation, we can say that our staff is trained to follow the state’s and MTC’s high standards, including specific safety and security protocol, to minimize risk to staff and inmates. Staff safety is of utmost importance to MTC as is the safety of inmates and the community.”

Graphic of inmate behind bars; image courtesy of KERBSTONE via Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

 But what happened, exactly? Well, according to Rodgers, the incident occurred when she was “performing her duties of going cell to cell to dispense medication to inmates, all of whom are considered dangerous.” While MTC's rules and regulations require “two properly trained personnel to escort her when she was dispensing medicine to inmates,” Rodgers alleged in her suit that “only one officer was escorting her when she was attacked. Additionally, the suit also stated that MTC rules require “inmates' cell tray flaps to be locked,” and stated:“Due to the negligent acts or omissions of MTC and its employees and representatives, an inmate was improperly and negligently secured and/or was otherwise allowed to attack plaintiff, threw boiling urine through his tray flap, covering Ms. Rodgers, and causing first-, second- and third-degree burns to her right forearm and abdomen, causing severe physical and emotional trauma and injuries.”Nine days before the boiling urine incident, Rodgers was assaulted by a different inmate “when the tray flap was left open.” For those who don't know, tray flaps are used to pass inmate food trays into the cells.The suit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against MTC and further states:“Shockingly, MTC failed to protect plaintiff even though a similar assault had just taken place...The acts or omissions of the defendant were so egregious as to rise to gross negligence evidencing a willful, wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of the plaintiff in her helpless state, and for which defendant knew or should have known that a violent assault by a dangerous inmate would occur.”

Sources:

Nurse sues prison operator, says inmate threw boiling urine on herWilkinson County Correctional Center