Attacks in Apparent Violation of Federal Law
East St. Louis, IL, March 19 – A suit filed in federal court here today alleges that last year an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) guard unit known as “Orange Crush” rounded up and physically abused hundreds of prisoners in “shakedowns” over periods of several days at four Illinois prisons – Illinois River Correctional Center (CC), Menard CC, Big Muddy River CC, and Lawrence CC.
The suit alleges human rights violations, including violation of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (42 U.S.C. § 15607).
The class action, brought by a prisoner at Illinois River, names at least 232 Orange Crush officers who “beat, sexually humiliated, and otherwise abused [hundreds of prisoners],” and “gratuitously inflicted punishment for the sole purpose of causing humiliation and needless pain.”
Chanting “punish the inmate,” the Orange Crush team conducted “a humiliating strip search in front of female officers” and ordered prisoners to march in line “so that one man’s genitals were in direct contact with the next man’s buttocks (referred to by the Orange Crush team as ‘Nuts to Butts’),” physically attacked prisoners who refused to comply, and gave “orders to stand in a stress position for several hours.”
The plaintiff is represented by Loevy & Loevy Attorney at Law, the largest civil rights firm in the Midwest, and Uptown People’s Law Center, a nonprofit national leader in prisoners’ rights litigation, both of which have been appointed by federal courts as class counsel in similar prison litigation. In one such case, Young v. County of Cook, Loevy & Loevy obtained a payment of $55 million for the class because of abusive strip searches. A copy of the suit can be found here: Demetrius Ross v. Gossett, et al., 3:15-cv-00309
Uptown People’s Law Center is a nonprofit legal services organization specializing in prisoners’ rights, Social Security disability, and tenants’ rights and eviction defense. Loevy & Loevy Attorneys at Law has won more multi-million dollar jury verdicts than any other civil rights law firm in the entire country over the past decade.
Hi my name is wulfrano perez, I’m from México and I was in big muddy rivera cc when the orange crush team came and humiliating strip search and I would like get help on this case, if there is somebody who can speak spanish better
My fiance is listed on this lawsuit and is wandering what is going on with it and how to get updates
My husband was an inmate there at the time and we would like to know how to be added to this lawsuit?
Please contact our office at 312-243-5900 (or electronically, via our website at http://www.loevy.com), and we would be happy to try to assist you.
We do have Spanish speaking intake workers who could talk to you about getting help. Please call our office at TOLL FREE 888.644.6459 or 312.243.59000.
My husband would like to recieve information as to how to be apart of the class action lawsuit against Orange Crush at the Menard Facility. He was an inmate in 2014. Any info would help.. thank you!
My name is zack and i was in illinois river when they came threw anyone with any up-dated info please email me at zcs19851985@gmail.com.
I also was locked up at the time,and was humiliated, and went through forms of torture, such as being hand cuffed for several hour’s in the chow hall,I was struck a bunch of times I couldn’t tell who the officers were because I forced to put my head down. I heard many more inmates were treated more harshly. I have been free since 2015/dec. 4,and still seek Justice!!! Thank you..
I was an inmate in Big Muddy River C.C. at the time and it was humiliating to be stripped in front of female guards. They had us spread our butt cheeks and then without letting us wash our hamds had us spread our mouth cheeks. That is disgusting.
I was in Lawrence c.c. when the situation occurred.what is the status with the lawsuit?
My name is Eric Reyes. I was an inmate at Illinois River when Orange Crush did their shakedown. Is it too late to be added to this lawsuit?
My husband was involved from Big Muddy. How do I make sure he’s on the list.
My ex husband michial Thomas is at big muddy river prison he want me contact u about his settlementl he said he been waiting I am his ex wife when michial Thomas get out in December 26,2018 my name is maija Thomas I just got off the phone with michialThomas here is his inmate B83065 feel free to call me back at 618-383-6879 if u have and question for me about this email and when he is getting out he be moving in. With me in December 26,20¹7
My name is Darius strong and I was in segregation in Lawrence cc when this occurred and can provide vivid details as it had happened yesterday..to which was beyond inhuman and humiliating..I provide u all with a detailed letter in 2015 but I don’t know if u all received it ..if I can be a witness or provide any assistance plz contact me at 708-843-3372… n plz add me to class act lawsuit
Well my case happen in 2002 when I was 22 or 23 a guard sexually molested me I stopped him but it mentally an physically has eaten me alive for years ..it was humiliating scary as he’ll an I bonded out when sent back to appointed attorney I had been locked down w federal woman well they told I was questioned by sheriff an appointed attorney an fined big time an years of probation now I was actually doing fantastic out it behind me an was working at a very high class bar n grill when the appointed attorney with now is the judge said a very degrading phrase to me which completely crushed me had. To grit my teeth an go on ..I feel I deserve justice I have 4 children married an this still haunts me scarred to move back towards family be cuz of this county needless to say it’s been 14 15 years an never got a ticket or ever went back ..at the time I was a mess it was a completely taking advantage of young troubled woman now I’m wondering how many other woman this caused so much pain an hurt to when they are already in a bad way .I hope I was elaborate enough for u to get the just .I’m going to be more embarrassed if I’m texting this story to the wrong team if so I’m super sorry for any time waisted ..thank u for giving me a chance to skim three my story . Have a blessed day if have kids kiss there heads an remind them how much u love them kiss your wife’s tell them how much u enjoy them .I’ve been blessed w life’s finest w having a beautiful family I struggle w trust issues be cuz of this happening an my kids suffer from my trust issues w others . It’s really a repetitive cycle I won’t take anymore of your time :/
Have a wonderful day .thank u .
Hasen this case gotten its “class action” status yet??
I was in Lawrence when orange crush came in. It I would like to know who to talk to with help on the case.
My name is Michael Denham I was in Lawrence correctional when this happens I’ve been trying to get a hold of your from for almost 4 years if you could give me information on the case and what I need to do to get active in the lawsuit.
My name is Demetrius Wilson B60404 l was incarcerated at the time, l was In Lawrenceville correctional center. l would like to know what is going on now that l have been released, l would like to be updated, n ect……
I was in Illinois river we they punch on us made us get naked in front of female guard handcuffs to tight mix my mail and my family pay for and they was eating our food throwing our stuff away it was hard and im trying to see if im in the law suit cause i didn’t put in no motion or nothing.
I was a inmate at big muddy during this period and wrote you guys and had my wife at the time call, never heard anything back, just wondering what in need to do next Marlin Seigart B86262
My son was at lawerence when this happen and we were wondering what is going on with lawsuit because now he is at another correctional center?
Hi. Just wanted to know if you could possibly Email me and update me on the status of the class action lawsuit filed against (orange crush.) I was in Illinois River C.C. when this happened, and suffered abuse at the expense of orange crush. I am contacting you because I have been released as of March 27th, 2020. Please contact me with information regarding the class action lawsuit, because I moved out of the state of Illinois as well. Thank you for your time and consideration.