Lawsuit alleges inmate abuse before and after deadly riot in Delaware

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- An attorney has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of scores of inmates at Delaware's maximum-security prison, alleging that they were subject to inhumane conditions and physical and verbal abuse both before and after a deadly riot last year.

The 80-page complaint filed Wednesday names Gov. John Carney and dozens of Department of Correction administrators and employees as defendants.

MORE: Delaware prison riot trial temporarily halted due to legal issues

The lawsuit alleges that state officials have known about, but largely ignored, abusive conditions at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center for years. It also alleges that DOC officials, perhaps with the cooperation of the prison's medical contractor, deliberately covered up widespread beatings of inmates after the February 2017 riot.

The lawsuit comes amid an ongoing trial for three of 16 inmates charged with murder and kidnapping in connection with the riot.

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