The family of a 23-year-old Peoria man who died earlier this year while serving time in a private prison near Kingman, Arizona, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the prison’s former operator and the state of Arizona.
The lawsuit filed Dec. 3 in Maricopa County Superior Court alleged Management & Training Corporation violated Neil Early’s civil and constitutional rights by failing to provide timely medical care for traumatic brain injuries. According to court records Early suffered multiple skull fractures in January when he was attacked by other inmates in the bathroom of a minimum-security unit.
Prison staff failed to diagnose Early’s injuries, and hours passed before he was given proper medical attention, the lawsuit alleged.
Court records show Early died at the hospital three days later.
He was in prison for theft and drug paraphernalia, according to Arizona Department of Corrections records. The lawsuit also accused the state of Arizona of committing negligence by allegedly ignoring security issues at the prison.
The state canceled its contract with Management & Training Corporation in August after officials said an investigation into a series of summer riots revealed a culture of disorganization and disregard for state policies at the facility. MTC continues to operate a prison near Marana.
