The Legal Aid Society claims the city Department of Correction has been denying inmates proper medical care, new court papers show.
The legal non-profit filed suit Monday against the DOC on behalf of four Rikers Island inmates who allegedly haven’t received medications or treatment — and in one case a hernia surgery, according to a Bronx Supreme Court class-action lawsuit.
For example, inmate Joseph Agnew, 23 — who’s been locked up at the troubled jail since Sept. 13 — has been recovering from a stabbing injury to his lung as well as an injury to his knee after he was allegedly hit by a cop car and stomped on by officers during an arrest, the court papers say.
However, the filing claims Agnew’s endured harsh treatment since his arrival at Rikers when he was left on a bus in handcuffs for 14 hours without food, drink, access to a bathroom and was made to sleep on the floor and was pepper-sprayed daily for six days during his intake, the filing claims.
The pepper spray has exacerbated Agnew’s asthma and he still requires a cane to walk. But despite asking daily to get medical care and an inhaler he hasn’t received either, the suit alleges.
Three other inmates similarly have allegedly been neglected at the jail despite serious health issues — including 23-year-old inmate Anthony Gang who hasn’t received a hernia surgery that was ordered by a doctor in March, the court documents claim.
“DOC can no longer deprive our clients of their right to medical care, and if the Department is unable to guarantee that right, then the court must immediately consider releasing people,” Legal Aid lawyer Veronica Vela said in a statement.
The DOC and the city Law Department did not immediately return a request for comment.