Alabama DOC Faces Flurry of Excessive Force Lawsuits

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is swimming in legal hot water, having settled over 90 lawsuits related to alleged excessive force by its officers since 2020, according to Alabama Reflector's investigation.

A Tidal Wave of Claims

In total, the ADOC has settled a staggering 124 lawsuits in the last five years. The heart of these cases? Claims that inmates suffered serious injuries at the hands of correctional staff. Think broken bones, head trauma, and even permanent disabilities – nasty stuff detailed in court records.

Show Me the Money!

The ADOC's legal tab has exploded. The report reveals over $17 million spent defending individual officers and settling cases since 2020. Tack on the big-ticket class-action lawsuits, like the one from the U.S. Department of Justice, and total legal costs breach a whopping $57 million.

Case Studies in Controversy

• Ventress Correctional Facility (2018): An officer allegedly fractured a handcuffed inmate's jaw in two places. The ADOC settled for $90,000 and fired the officer.

• Limestone Correctional Facility (2019): A man suffered a traumatic brain injury and permanent hearing loss after allegedly being beaten by multiple officers. His mother received $9,000 after his release and subsequent death.

• Staton Correctional Facility (2018): An inmate was airlifted to a hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. The case ended with a $55,000 settlement.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Settlements come from Alabama's General Liability Trust Fund, which covers legal defense and settlement payments for state employees. Bigger lawsuits against state agencies? Those get paid out of the state's General Fund.

A Growing Problem

Many complaints start as handwritten filings from inmates with limited options for reporting abuse. The number of claims has skyrocketed, jumping from 33 in 2020 to 235 in 2023.

Legal Fees vs. Settlements

Between 2020 and 2024, private attorneys defending ADOC employees pocketed nearly $13 million – almost triple the $4.4 million paid out in settlements. The median settlement for excessive force claims? A mere $8,000.

How Does Alabama Compare?

Unfortunately, data comparing Alabama to other states on similar lawsuits isn't readily available.

Longshore & McKnight Dive Deep into College Sports Chaos!

John and Barry are at it again! Today's episode of Longshore & McKnight tackles the wild, wild west of college athletics governance. Power conference bigwigs are proposing a College Sports Commission – sounds serious, right? The aim? To slam the brakes on those pesky state-level NIL laws that are causing all sorts of headaches.

Is This the Only Solution?

Barry McKnight says time is of the essence, folks! He emphasized that action “has got to happen sooner, much than way later.” With a July 1 deadline looming, the pressure is on! This commission would make schools play by a unified set of rules or face getting booted from the NCAA. It's all about trying to bring back some competitive balance and actually enforceable standards because, let's be honest, things are getting a little crazy out there.

Recruiting is...Boring?

But that's not all! The guys also chatted about those insane college football ticket prices, and how fans are losing their passion for recruiting. Brian Matthews from AuburnSports.com joined the show and pointed out how NIL and the transfer portal are sucking the joy out of traditional recruiting excitement. He did give a thumbs up to Auburn's roster makeover, though, saying Hugh Freeze needs 8–9 wins to keep the peace!

And More!

Alabama and Auburn baseball postseason hopes, NFL scheduling, and even Charles Barkley's thoughts on NIL got some airtime. It's a jam-packed show you don't wanna miss!

Clay County Politician in Hot Water!

A Democratic hopeful vying for a spot on the Clay County Commission has been found guilty of felony voter fraud. Seems like someone was trying a little too hard to win!

Absentee Ballot Shenanigans

Terry Andrew Heflin, 45, who was running for the District 5 seat, copped a plea to one count of absentee ballot fraud – a serious Class C felony.

How Low Did He Go?

According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Heflin illegally requested and filled out another person's absentee ballot, casting a vote for himself without their say-so. He even had the ballot sent straight to his P.O. box! Talk about bold!

The Price of Deception

Heflin got slapped with a one-year-and-a-day sentence, but will only spend 15 days behind bars. He's also gotta cough up a $2,500 fine. Ouch!

Message Sent Loud and Clear

Attorney General Marshall minced no words: "Voter fraud is a direct attack on our democratic process... If you undermine our elections by committing voter fraud, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.” Preach!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Marshall thanked the Special Prosecutions Division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office for their help in bringing Heflin to justice.

Big News for Huntsville! Raytheon Scores a Billion-Dollar Deal!

Hey ChumCity! Get ready for some high-tech action! Raytheon just landed a massive $1 billion contract with the Missile Defense Agency right here in Huntsville!

What's the Buzz About?

Raytheon will be cranking out up to 55 SM-3 Block IB All-Up Rounds. Think state-of-the-art missile defense systems – pretty cool, right? These bad boys are made, put together, and tested to meet some serious specifications.

Huntsville's Got a Piece of the Action!

While the work will also take place in Tucson, Huntsville's involved! Expect this project to keep things humming along nicely until March 31, 2031. The Missile Defense Agency in our own city is the brains behind this contracting operation. Way to go, Huntsville!

(Courtesy of 256 Today)

Matt Woods Gets Big Boost in Senate Race!

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama (ABC) has thrown its support behind Matt Woods for Senate District 5! This comes as Governor Ivey calls a special election for June 24, 2025, to fill the seat left vacant after Greg Reed joined her administration.

Why ABC is Backing Woods

ABC Board Chairman Tim Harrison says Woods is the real deal: "Matt's a businessman who gets it. We need leaders in Montgomery focused on cutting the red tape, sparking growth, and boosting workforce development. Matt’s got the experience, and that’s why we're with him."

Woods' Roots and Rise

A lifelong resident of Senate District 5, Woods is a product of Oakman High School (Class of '00!). After Bevill State and Auburn, he returned home to Walker County and the family biz. He's been repping District 13 in the Alabama House since '22.

Woods Responds to the Endorsement

"The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama are top-notch when it comes to supporting construction professionals, and their support tells me our message is connecting with folks," said State Rep. Matt Woods (R-Jasper).

He added, "Alabama’s commercial construction industry brings in a massive $17 billion annually, and I'm eager to work with ABC to keep the momentum going for the construction industry and our entire state!”

About ABC of Alabama

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama is a heavyweight, representing the state's construction industry, which generates 200,000 jobs and contributes a whopping 5% to Alabama's economy.

Alabama & Auburn Ready to Rumble in SEC Tournament!

It's baseball fever in Alabama! Both Auburn and Alabama are poised for some serious postseason action, kicking off with the SEC Tournament this week. Could this be the year the Tide or Tigers bring home some big-time hardware?

Auburn's Ike Irish: Golden Spikes Nominee!

The Auburn Tigers snagged the No. 6 seed and will battle the winner of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State in their opener. Fueling their fire is none other than star catcher Ike Irish, a Golden Spikes Award nominee! This dude's a beast, hitting .354 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs, all while flashing some serious leather behind the plate. Talk about a complete player!

Bama's Justin Lebron Chasing Glory!

Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide are rolling into Hoover as the No. 9 seed, facing Missouri on Tuesday morning. If they conquer the Tigers, they'll face a tough test against No. 8 Tennessee on Wednesday. Bama's own superstar shortstop Justin Lebron has been tearing it up, earning himself a Golden Spikes Award finalist nod. He's batting .313 with 18 dingers! Can he bring the Golden Spikes back to Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1983?

Hardware on the Horizon?

With both Irish and Lebron dominating on the diamond, all eyes will be on them in Hoover. Both teams are practically guaranteed NCAA Tournament spots, but can these superstars lead their squads to a championship run? Only time will tell, folks! Get ready for some serious baseball drama!

Alabama Digs in for Redistricting Fight!

Hold on to your hats, ChumCity citizens! Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall just dropped a bombshell: the state's appealing that federal court smackdown of its 2023 congressional map. Remember that one? The court said it intentionally discriminated against Black voters, violating the Voting Rights Act.

Backstory

Marshall's been a staunch defender of the Legislature's map, saying it's both legal and above board. The map came about after the Supreme Court basically told Alabama to create a second district where Black voters had a real shot at electing their candidate of choice. The Legislature tweaked District 2, aiming to boost minority influence without, you know, being too obvious about it.

Judge's Slam Dunk

But in a massive, almost 600-page ruling back on May 8th, a panel of judges said "No way, Jose!" They permanently blocked the map, arguing it illegally suppressed Black voters. Only one majority-Black district out of seven? Come on, Alabama! Black folks make up about 27% of the population!

What's Next?

This is just the latest chapter in a years-long redistricting saga. After the court-ordered map was implemented, Alabama elected two minority representatives for the first time ever in the 2024 elections!

Pre-Clearance on the Horizon?

The judges even hinted they might make Alabama get federal approval for future redistricting plans. That's a big deal!

Marshall's appeal signals that Alabama's ready for a drawn-out legal brawl, potentially landing this whole thing back in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Stay tuned, ChumCity – this one's far from over!

Big News from the Alabama Supreme Court!

Hold on to your hats, ChumCity folks! Governor Kay Ivey just shook things up, appointing Judge Bill Lewis to the Alabama Supreme Court! This follows Justice Jay Mitchell's surprising exit – he's got his sights set on becoming Attorney General in 2026!

Who is Judge Lewis?

Judge Lewis is no stranger to Alabama's legal scene. He was just appointed to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals earlier this year. Governor Ivey is super confident in her choice, stating that Judge Lewis "continues demonstrating justice and fairness under the law, as well as a willingness to serve the people of Alabama." She believes his "decades of experience will serve the Supreme Court of Alabama well."

Lewis's Impressive Background

Before his stint on the Court of Civil Appeals, Judge Lewis presided over the 19th Judicial Circuit in Elmore County. He's also been a senior partner at his own firm, the Lewis Law Firm, since '06. This guy has done it all - from assistant district attorney to criminal defense and even dabbling in civil and family law! He's got degrees from the University of the South and Cumberland School of Law.

What's Next?

The Governor's office says Ivey chatted with Judge Lewis this morning. And don't worry, she'll announce who's filling Judge Lewis's old seat on the Court of Civil Appeals soon. Stay tuned, ChumCity, for more updates!

Redstone Arsenal: A Hub of Army Innovation!

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll recently teamed up with Senator Katie Britt for a grand tour of Redstone Arsenal, showing off its incredible Army-related facilities.

Inside Redstone's High-Tech World

Driscoll and Britt dove deep, hitting up Army Materiel Command (AMC), the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), Program Executive Office Missiles & Space (PEO Missiles and Space), and Program Executive Office Aviation (PEO Aviation). They even got the lowdown on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA)!

Senator Britt's Passion for Redstone

"It's always an honor to spotlight Alabama's cutting-edge power at Redstone Arsenal," Britt exclaimed. She thanked Secretary Driscoll for visiting Huntsville so early in his term.

Britt emphasized that Redstone Arsenal is vital to national security, playing a key role in supporting multiple branches of the U.S. military, especially the Army. She added, "Redstone is indispensable to advancing this mission of ensuring America’s military readiness."

Britt's Advocacy for Alabama's Army Installations

Britt previously championed Driscoll’s confirmation, noting his understanding of Alabama's Army bases. She believes he understands the importance of Army bases throughout Alabama.

FBI's Presence at Redstone

Back in April, Britt, along with Senator Tommy Tuberville and FBI Director Kash Patel, toured Redstone to check out the base's intelligence capabilities.

"The FBI’s operations on Redstone Arsenal are at the forefront of 21st-century innovation," Britt commented, highlighting Redstone’s critical role in the FBI's future.

Alabama House Republicans Declare Victory on "Alabama Values" Agenda!

Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen is pumpin' fists! He's giving a huge shoutout to the House Republican Caucus for keepin' their promise and rockin' the "Alabama Values" legislative agenda. This agenda, packed with conservative goodies, was a top priority for the 2025 session.

What's in the "Alabama Values" Goodie Bag?

Stadthagen declared the agenda reflects "conservative beliefs and values" that most Alabamians hold dear. He highlighted the hard work of Republican House members in making it happen. So, what kinda goodies are we talkin' about? Buckle up!

• Job Creation: The "Powering Growth" plan aims to boost the economy through energy availability, which is the top factor for economic development projects.
• Border Protection: Crackin' down on illegal immigration with tougher laws, working with the federal government.
• Honest Elections: Ensuring vote integrity by beefing up voter ID laws.
• Public Safety: Backing the blue with the "Back The Blue Protection Act" for law enforcement, plus speeding up trials and keeping sex offenders away from first responder roles.
• Public Education: Throwing cash at schools and school choice options. Also, restricting student device use during class time and teaching the importance of graduating, getting a job, and getting hitched before kids.
• Military & Veterans: Rolling out the red carpet for military personnel and vets, including a "one-stop shop" Veterans Resource Center.
• Innocent Life & Families: Axing state taxes on baby essentials and cutting the grocery tax.
• Common Sense: Battling the "Woke" agenda with the "What Is A Woman Act," defining "man," "woman," etc., based on biology.

Who Made This Happen?

State Reps. Kerry “Bubba” Underwood and James Lomax co-chaired the platform committee that cooked up this agenda. Huge thanks to them and the rest of the crew including Cynthia Almond, Susan DuBose, Steve Hurst, Jamie Kiel, Paul Lee, Rhett Marques, Marcus Paramore, Kenneth Paschal, and Shane Stringer!