Hogan Lovells Announces Proposed $7M Settlement Over Abuse at Massachusetts Correctional Facility

Hogan Lovells has announced a proposed settlement amounting to $7 million in a federal class action lawsuit alleging systemic abuse at a Massachusetts correctional facility. The lawsuit, initiated in 2022 on behalf of 150 current and former inmates, claims that prison officers from the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC) engaged in excessive violence, particularly against Black and Latino prisoners, during a period of heightened aggression in early 2020. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts certified the class action, which addresses instances of beatings, use of chemical agents, and other forms of abuse allegedly condoned by the Department of Corrections' leadership. The settlement not only promises monetary compensation to the victims but also mandates policy changes at SBCC to curtail future abuses and ensure racial equity. Leading the case for Hogan Lovells is Tony Fuller, alongside a team that includes various partners, counsel, and associates who are working pro bono to ensure systemic reform and justice for the affected prisoners.