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Summer,
2000
BOOT CAMPS FOR JUVENILES?!
FACTS:
Two Glen Burnie attorneys have taken their first
legal step in an expected lawsuit against state officials
on behalf of three (3) teens they say were assaulted at
state-run boot camps in western Maryland.
CASE OUTLINE:
The notice of claims is the first step toward a lawsuit
under the Maryland Tort Claims Act and the first civil action
on behalf of the teens since the publication of reports
of widespread abuse at three (3) camps in Garrett County.
 The
claim alleges cruel and unusual punishment, torture, hazing,
intentional infliction of emotional distress and physical
beatings from guards at the facilities, which are designed
to straighten out young delinquents by subjecting them to
military style discipline. "Clearly, their civil rights
have been violated, and it went beyond discipline and punishment
in the juvenile justice arena and moved to abuse, which
is unlawful," said attorney Evelyn
O. A. Darden.
Darden and her partner, Mark A. Darden,
III, said they are continuing to look for teens that
were at Savage Leadership Challenge, Backbone Leadership
Challenge, and Meadow Mountain Leadership Challenge to determine
whether others have valid claims. The attorneys said they
are considering a class action lawsuit.
Gov. Paris N. Glendening ordered the camps closed in December
after The Sun reported that guards had routinely assaulted
teens in their care. Two (2) judges, Maryland State Police
investigators, and a task force appointed by the governor
concluded that the assaults were widespread and dated to
1996, when the first camps opened. State police and the
FBI are continuing to investigate.
A spokesman for the Department of Juvenile Justice said
officials had no comment on the claim. A spokeswoman for
Glendening said the governor's office could not comment
because of the pending litigation.
From the article by Todd Richissin in the Wednesday,
May 17, 2000 issue of The Sun in Anne Arundel.
CASE STATUS:
Today, the Law Offices of Addison-Darden represent well
over a dozen teens who are all now part of the class action
lawsuit. Negotiations have been continuing throughout the
past year to seek the appropriate systemic and monetary
relief.
All
information herein provided by permission of clients.
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