Phil in Paris
01-19-2005, 08:58 AM
Judi Villa
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
The civilian kitchen worker who was raped at the beginning of last year's hostage standoff at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis has reached a tentative monetary settlement with the state.
The woman's lawyer, Albert M. Flores, declined to discuss details of the settlement other than to say it was "not the initial asking amount" of $5 million. Flores did say the settlement was "fair compensation for a rape victim."
The settlement, which came out of a mediation hearing on Monday, still needs to be approved by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
That approval is anticipated in February, Flores said.
"There's nothing she can get that can erase this from her memory," Flores said.
The woman was working for a private vendor in the kitchen of the Morey Unit at the Lewis prison when armed robber Ricky Wassenaar and convicted rapist Steven Coy launched an escape attempt in the early morning hours of Jan. 18, 2004.
The inmates, armed with a homemade knife, were able to overcome the only officer on kitchen duty. The 55-year-old woman was hog-tied, beaten and raped by Coy. The inmates then seized the unit's watchtower and held two corrections officers hostage for 15 days. Officer Lois Fraley also was raped.
In her lawsuit, filed in June, the woman claimed the state was negligent in allowing a convicted rapist and another violent felon to work in the kitchen with her.
The suit also cited lax security, poor training and incompetence.
Since the standoff ended, prison officials have been working to correct deficiencies.
The woman remains unemployed and is still recovering from the attack.
http://www.azcentral.com/news//articles/0119prisonsuit19.html
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
The civilian kitchen worker who was raped at the beginning of last year's hostage standoff at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis has reached a tentative monetary settlement with the state.
The woman's lawyer, Albert M. Flores, declined to discuss details of the settlement other than to say it was "not the initial asking amount" of $5 million. Flores did say the settlement was "fair compensation for a rape victim."
The settlement, which came out of a mediation hearing on Monday, still needs to be approved by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
That approval is anticipated in February, Flores said.
"There's nothing she can get that can erase this from her memory," Flores said.
The woman was working for a private vendor in the kitchen of the Morey Unit at the Lewis prison when armed robber Ricky Wassenaar and convicted rapist Steven Coy launched an escape attempt in the early morning hours of Jan. 18, 2004.
The inmates, armed with a homemade knife, were able to overcome the only officer on kitchen duty. The 55-year-old woman was hog-tied, beaten and raped by Coy. The inmates then seized the unit's watchtower and held two corrections officers hostage for 15 days. Officer Lois Fraley also was raped.
In her lawsuit, filed in June, the woman claimed the state was negligent in allowing a convicted rapist and another violent felon to work in the kitchen with her.
The suit also cited lax security, poor training and incompetence.
Since the standoff ended, prison officials have been working to correct deficiencies.
The woman remains unemployed and is still recovering from the attack.
http://www.azcentral.com/news//articles/0119prisonsuit19.html