Suit over health care in AZ prisons dismissed
-
Image by Journal Broadcast Group
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo
PHOENIX (AP) - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that alleged that Arizona prisons don't meet the basic requirements for providing adequate medical and mental health care to inmates.
But lawyers refiled the lawsuit on Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Frederick Martone says in a ruling Wednesday that the prisoner who filed the lawsuit 18 months ago didn't have permission to add 13 more inmates as plaintiffs and seek class-action status.
Still, the judge left open the possibility that the prisoners could refile the lawsuit.
Corrections officials are accused in the lawsuit of having a deliberate indifference toward the suffering of prisoners and failing to correct problems after they were brought to their attention.
The Department of Corrections had no immediate comment Thursday morning on developments in the case.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.