Georgia County Not Liable for Inmate Killed By Cellmate

Clayton County, Ga. and four supervisors of its jail aren’t liable for the death of an inmate killed by his cellmate in a dispute over a piece of candy, because the jail’s inmate screening and supervision policies are constitutionally sufficient, the Eleventh Circuit said.

Kenneth Grochowski and William Alexander Brooks were placed in medium security pretrial detainment together in August 2012. Both were arrested on nonviolent charges, and neither had a history of violent felonies or reported mental health issues. The two got into a fight over a piece of candy. Brooks beat Grochowski until he was unconscious, then tried ...