Pennsylvania Co. Settles Inmates Abuse Suits

An insurance company for Somerset County, Pa. settled lawsuits by six former jail inmates who claimed they were beaten by other inmates while jail officials did nothing to stop the assaults.

Somerset solicitor Dan Rullo says the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool decided it was cheaper to settle than to fight the suit.

The amount isn’t being disclosed, but the county is responsible for $9,000 in deductibles.

Somerset Borough police charged seven former inmates with hazing and assaults on other inmates in March 2005. Six inmates pleaded guilty. Charges against the seventh were dismissed.

Police said the attackers were longer-term inmates who would force short-term inmates to submit to the shower shoe beatings or face worse assaults.