Hogan Lovells files suit with Mississippi Center for Justice and others on behalf of prisoners seeking protection from COVID-19
Washington, D.C., 15 May 2020 – Global law firm Hogan Lovells is part of a group that has filed a class action lawsuit against Mississippi’s two largest prisons on behalf of the approximately 6,000 individuals housed at these facilities, alleging the prisons have taken inadequate steps to prevent infection and mitigate an outbreak of COVID-19.
The suit, filed in Federal District Court in Mississippi, was brought by the Mississippi Center for Justice, along with Hogan Lovells, the ACLU of Mississippi and attorney Mark Whitburn. The complaint alleges the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and the South Mississippi Correctional Institution have not implemented minimum prevention practices required to reduce transmission and identify cases of COVID-19 infection. Among other measures, the suit seeks implementation of guidance provided to correctional facilities by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The lawsuit alleges that Mississippi Department of Corrections has not implemented basic pandemic response protocols such as frequent cleaning and disinfection of living units, as well as provision of sufficient hand soap and cleaning supplies. The lawsuit also cites failures to adequately isolate and test residents, as well as failures to communicate key infection prevention information.
The Hogan Lovells team includes Jonathan Abram, John Hamilton, Madeleine Bech, and Sydney Rupe.