State prison system wins in lawsuit

Friday, Oct. 1, 1999 | 10:18 a.m.

Inmates Dennie Jaso Jr. and George Dunckhurt III alleged in a lawsuit that guards used excessive force in removing them from an Indian sweat lodge at the prison near Indian Springs.

But Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Thursday her staff defeated the claims of civil rights violations in a trial before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro. Del Papa said officers used the minimum force necessary to put down what could have turned into a riot.

Pro ruled in favor of the state prisons system, the warden and several correctional officers.

The lawsuit was originally filed in state court but moved to federal court because of the civil rights claims.

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