ROCKLAND, Maine — A Maine State Prison inmate has filed a lawsuit against the state as a result of a crash two years ago involving two vehicles transporting prisoners.
The lawsuit on behalf of Clifford Perkins was filed Monday in Knox County Superior Court against the state of Maine, the Maine Department of Corrections and prison employee Robert J. Brownell of Washington.
The crash occurred on April 22, 2010, at the intersection of Routes 1 and 131 in Thomaston. Maine State Police said the crash was a property damage crash involving two state transport vehicles.
The lawsuit claims Brownell was driving negligently and unskillfully when the crash occurred and that Perkins suffered injuries.
Perkins is represented by attorney C. Donald Briggs III of Rockport.
The Maine Department of Corrections had no comment on the lawsuit, saying the case had not yet been referred to an attorney in the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Perkins originally was sentenced for burglary and other offenses. He also escaped from the Bolduc Correctional Center in Warren, known also as the prison farm, in late 2009 but was apprehended two weeks later hiding in the woods in Scarborough. His scheduled release date is in 2014.
3 free meals, free medical and dental, free place to stay, free free free, and STILL not enough for you??? now you want MORE MORE MORE… DON’T AWARD HIM A DIME!!! police report states it self, PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT. IMO this is complete BS!
How about you go commit a crime and stay in prison for some years, then comment on this very same page again :) I’ll assure you, prison isn’t college. Were you expecting 3 free meals from a 5 star restaurant, a doctor by your side every moment, and a dentist to sleep beside you in case your tooth aches at night? I didn’t think so
Well Bailey, that is exactly what a lot of inmates expect. The cries of “Hey CO! I want this and I want that” are almost constant.
It’s not hard to stay out of prison. You really have to make an effort to get yourself sent to prison. I don’t understand why anyone would complain about prison conditions after going through all the effort to get there in the first place.
I second this motion.. “Yo CO!” is a constant phrase to have an officer waste his time to “get” the inmate something. that would be why my favorite sylable is “NO!”
No but be good and we may pay for your classes so you can get a degree.
You don’t know? If you are at the Maine State Prison, and you ask for college courses, it is ALL paid for by Warren Buffet’s sister Doris….All of it, call and ask for the education Department!!! 273-5300. And all the flowers are paid for by Barbara Bush…..true story!
yes but you also have to have more than 2 years to serve… and you have to meet some require,ments.. it’s not open to all.. if you don’t have the time, you have to pay for the classes/books. so I say you don’t know..
There is a time line, but other than that, it is OPEN to ALL prisoners, and the books and classes are paid for…again by Doris Buffet. There are a lot of prisoners who will never see outside the fence with college degrees, at no cost to you as a tax payer. I’m split on this, staff Have to pay for all their schooling, and if you are there, you know the cost, but on the other hand, if a prisone is reading and writing, doing his homework, he is not getting into trouble and is not assaulting staff and other prisoners.
ummm its not supposed to be college. you are there because you did something wrong.
I’m thinking that if you decide to become a thieving criminal, you are responsible for all damages done to yourself related to that profession.
you’re incarcerated because of your own actions, all actions lead to consequences (good or bad), if your actions had been better, you wouldn’t have had to be transported, hence it all comes back to your actions putting you there in the first place. If you want to sue the state for damages I say we all sue you for the amount you have cost all of us – sound fair?
well why don’t you ??
Why should he be sued for what he cost us if he’s paying for it with time in prison?
Because we are paying for that time in prison and he’s looking for a payout……
He wants to remodel the old 8 by 10. Paint, maybe some wallpaper and curtains. hehe
Maybe we should sue his lawyer for frivolous use of tax payer dollars
Sound fair???? Life is not fair.
Donald Briggs III should get the cell next to you for even taking this case, some of you lawyers make me sick!
I think not. This guy is paying for his crimes. I have seen many times these police transport vans drive criminally . Why are they not charged? It the accident was cause but going to fast or any kind of driving to endanger. IE. stop sign fail to yield etc. Then the driver should be responsible. He would be if it was not a state vehicle . I am not saying he should get a large cash settlement. Just saying let the law apply to ALL the same.
Let’s not waste our time locking up small game. If we’re going to be caging up attorneys lets put Thayne Ornsby’s lawyer away for a long, long time.
Maine should have a “windfall profits law” concerning prisoners and those who accept State welfare funds.
Should a prisoner, ex-prisoner, or welfare client, ex-welfare client, win the lottery, for more than $1,999.99 inherit more than $49,999.99, or gain damages in any amount through law suit, that money or monies can be confiscated by the State and used to off-set the expense of the State in maintaining this individual, during his incarceration, or while on State aid.
New Hampshire actually has a law that requires prisoners who can afford it to pay for their own incarceration, and it’s enforced by the AG.
So does VA, its only like $3 a day, but I like it.
I’ll bet the actual amount collected is less than the state spends to acquire said funds. In REALITY,most prisoners in this country are poor. Because in America, if you have the money to pay for a legal dream team, well,nothing is against the law,or at least you can get away with murder.
Yeah like Leona Helmsley, Jean Harris, Michael Skakel, Bernie Madoff, Phil Spector. Lindsay Lohan,Charlie Sheen,Wesley Snipes, Michael Brea, Joseph Son, PLAXICO BURRESS, Ike Turner, Rod Blagojevich and a host of other famous miscreants.
You forgot the Maine Turnpike Authority guy. If Maine had a law that permitted the AG to sue those inmates who could afford to pay the state’s costs of their incarceration, the Maine AG could go after him and maybe get a judgment that required him to make periodic payments from his pension. Under the present system he’s getting three hots and a cot, free to him, at taxpayer expense.
Why shouldn’t he pay for it if he can afford it?
No, I understand it’s worthwhile for New Hampshire. I read an article in one of the NH papers about it. The state is selective and doesn’t sue every inmate, just the ones who have collectible assets to make a lawsuit worth it. It’s enforced by the NH AG’s office, and it’s a very simple and uncomplicated process to bring a collection action in the superior court. It doesn’t require lots of discovery, and doesn’t involve disputed liability.
I don’t know if Maine has a statute that allows something like that, but maybe it’s something the legislature should consider.
Brilliant….reminds me of the Chinese execution squads who send the family for a bill for the bullet used to execute their family member. Chinese Communist Legal System. That would be a great step forward for America to espouse the legal system of a country with a multitude of human rights violations.
I suggest since you use the word “Communist” you find out what that means. I do not see why taxpayers should be “biled” for the delinquency of others. I’m not suggesting the State “bill the family” I am suggesting that the taxpayers bill the delinquent.
Talk about ambulance chasing.
I have seen those transport vans drive pretty crazy. I wounder why they are not stopped by police ? One reason I have had a hard time respecting law enforcement in general. Why are some people ticketed and not others?
I had a penobscot county van(transport van at that) go by me two days ago at a high rate of speed, bangor cap was behind me, did illegal passing and everything, called my old boss Glenn ross up, he didnt seem to care
Take it to court and a jury. Let a jury decide if this guy deserves any compensation.
Can’t the judge that the case is presented to simply dismiss it, should the judge feel it does not warrant going to trial?
Not if the case is within the court’s jurisdiction. But if the complaint doesn’t state an actionable wrong, or as the case proceeds in court and discovery is made, if it becomes apparent that the plaintiff is not entitled to any recovery under the facts of his case, the defense can move for dismissal or summary judgment before trial.
What were his injuries?
When the State puts someone in Prison, they are his legal guardian, he is in their custody. They own him.. Yet they can’t abuse him he has become the States Child.
Child indangerment may come into play here.
Well I wish him the best of health,
I was run into while stopped at a light 6 years ago. The gentleman was reaching for his phone and hit us going over 50 miles an hour. Still suffering from it.
This is why people do not like attorneys
When in prison a inmate gets bored. The most common relief of boredom in prison is to have some form of legal complaint.
Seems to me, the legal system needs to find something to give inmates something for better mental activity.
actually,he should win his case…then whoever he victimized should get the money…restitution…:)
Awwwww, did he break a nail
If he pays for all the officers that must accompany him and his own legal fees……………go for it. If the state pays ONE penny on this……………..we are stupid!!! I think a bill to support prisoners right to sue as long as they pay for ALL expenses………I’ll vote for it.
Awwwwwwww, did he brake a nail.
Seems to me that attorney C. Donald Briggs III of Rockport is desperate for work.
Good thing they had him strapped in to his seat so he didn’t go flying through the windshield.
Sounds like he’s working on being a habitual criminal AND cooking a good scam while in the pokey. Any monies recovered from his suit should be confiscated and given to the people he victimized before going to jail. Fair is fair.
What is that old Bible saying about the “the least of thee …?