On November 20, 2019, women incarcerated at Huron Valley Correctional Facility for Women filed this class-action lawsuit alleging that the prison violated the constitutional rights of the women. The plaintiffs sued the Michigan Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and under state law for negligence. The plaintiffs, represented by five law firms, sought monetary damages, declaratory and injunctive relief, and class certification. In a 50 page complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that the prison created dangerous living conditions because it was underfunded, understaffed, poorly administered, and intentionally overcrowded. They also alleged that the prison facilities had deteriorated, resulting in a humid environment and dangerous varieties of mold. The plaintiffs claimed that exposure to the toxic mold has caused their physical and mental health to suffer through injuries such as respiratory infections and asthma. Despite continued pleas from the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs claimed that the defendants failed to remedy the conditions. The case was assigned to District Judge Victoria A. Roberts.

As of February 8, 2020, the defendants had not answered and the case was ongoing.

Chandler Hart-McGonigle - 02/07/2020


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