A lawsuit claims that Charles “Chuck” Givens, a disabled prisoner, died due to excessive force used by officers at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center in Virginia.
Allegations of excessive force: The lawsuit filed by Givens’ sister, Kymberly Hobbs, alleges that several officers brutally beat Givens, leading to his death.
* Officers involved have denied the allegations and their attorneys have filed motions to dismiss the case, with one motion being denied.
Case details: Givens died at age 52 with the mental capacity of a 7- or 8-year-old, and was incarcerated for a 2010 murder, serving time in Marion’s special unit for inmates with disabilities and mental illness.
* Givens was found dead in his cell on February 5, 2022, after being escorted to a shower room by correctional officers.
Autopsy results: While an initial medical examination suggested blunt force trauma as the cause of Givens’ death, the examiner did not declare it a homicide. Later, however, Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Eli Goodman testified before a Smyth County grand jury, stating Givens’ death was a homicide.
Upcoming trial: A jury trial has been set to start on August 19, 2024, with Hobbs’ attorneys alleging not only Givens’ death but also a years-long pattern of abuse while he was at Marion, which may have remained unreported due to his inability to communicate.
Note: The lawsuit seeks at least $15 million in monetary damages, and Hobbs hopes everyone allegedly involved in her brother’s death is brought to justice.
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