YSL RICO trial defendant files class-action lawsuit over Fulton County Jail conditions

ATLANTA - One of the defendants in the YSL RICO trial is now leading a class-action lawsuit against the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office alleging that the Fulton County Jail has subjected detainees to unconstitutional conditions in violation of their Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Shannon Jackson and Nkenegen Hambrick, representing themselves and others similarly situated, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. It names Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and Chief Jailer John Jackson as defendants, both in their official capacities.

According to the complaint, detainees at the jail, located at 901 Rice Street NW in Atlanta, face "serious harm by the cruel and unusual conditions of confinement" due to overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, rampant violence, and unsanitary living conditions.

Fulton County Jail’s allegations of dangerous, unsanitary conditions

The complaint paints a grim picture of life inside the facility, citing pervasive issues such as detainees crafting makeshift weapons from crumbling infrastructure, malfunctioning cell door locks, and a lack of proper classification practices to separate detainees based on their risk levels or gang affiliations. The lawsuit alleges these failures have led to violence, injuries, and deaths.

The conditions at the jail have also reportedly resulted in severe health problems for detainees. Hambrick, who was incarcerated from January to June 2023, developed severe wounds and sores attributed to unsanitary and bug-infested conditions. Medical records indicate that Hambrick suffered from untreated skin ulcerations and mental health challenges during his detention.

Jackson, another plaintiff, endured two separate stabbing attacks in 2022 and 2023, both allegedly facilitated by malfunctioning security measures and inadequate staffing. The complaint highlights the absence of proper supervision, with only one officer present in areas housing hundreds of detainees.

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Fulton County Jail federal probe

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a civil rights investigation into the Fulton County Jail in July 2023 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). A subsequent DOJ report released in November 2024 concluded that the jail failed to meet constitutional standards for safety, sanitation, and healthcare. It documented alarming rates of violence, substandard medical care, and unsanitary conditions.

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, "We launched this investigation based on serious allegations of unsafe, unsanitary living conditions at the jail, excessive force and violence, and failures to provide adequate medical care." Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized, "People held in jails and prisons do not surrender their constitutional and civil rights at the jailhouse door."

The plaintiffs argue that these systemic failures violate their constitutional rights. The lawsuit alleges deliberate indifference by jail officials, who were aware of the risks but failed to take corrective action. Sheriff Labat has publicly acknowledged the deteriorating infrastructure and staffing shortages, even rolling a wheelbarrow of confiscated weapons into an Atlanta City Council meeting to illustrate the scale of the problem.

What the Fulton County Jail lawsuit seeks

The lawsuit seeks:

• Declaratory and injunctive relief to address jail safety and sanitation.
• Implementation of improved policies for detainee classification, security measures, and staff training.
• Comprehensive pest control and sanitation protocols.
• Enhanced medical and mental healthcare services.
• Monetary damages for injuries and punitive damages for deliberate indifference.

Michael D. Harper, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, stated that the risks posed by these conditions are longstanding, pervasive, and well-documented. Leadership has failed to act, leaving detainees in constant danger. Harper previously represented the family of Lashawn Thompson, a detainee who died under similar conditions at the facility.

Who was Lashawn Thompson?

Lashawn Thompson, an inmate at the Fulton County Jail, died in September 2022. Thompson was found dead in his cell, and reports indicated that he had been severely neglected. His family and legal representatives claimed that he had been housed in deplorable conditions, with his cell being infested with insects and rodents. They alleged that he had been bitten by bedbugs and other pests, which contributed to his death.

The case spotlighted dangerous issues within the Fulton County Jail, including overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate healthcare for inmates. 

In response to the outcry over Thompson's death, there were demands for accountability and improvements in the jail's management and conditions. The case also sparked discussions about the treatment of mentally ill inmates, as Thompson reportedly had mental health issues that were not adequately addressed during his incarceration.

Thompson's family reached a settlement with the county for $4 million.