Jason Stiehl and Kristine Rinella Argentine Quoted in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
“Lawsuit criticizes inmates' medical care in state correctional facilities”

Seyfarth attorneys Jason Stiehl and Kristine Rinella Argentine were quoted in the October 27 issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The article covered a federal lawsuit that Seyfarth and the Uptown People’s Law Center have filed against Illinois prison officials. The suit, which seeks class-action status, alleges "widespread and persistent mistreatment of Illinois inmates needing ongoing medical attention."

Kristine reported that according to her research, nearly 3,000 cases in the last five years have been filed in Illinois alleging inadequate prison conditions, including inadequate medical treatment. Furthermore, Alan Mills, the legal director of the Uptown People’s Law Center, said that the center receives about 125 letters a week from prison inmates complaining about prison conditions. Of the letters, 90 percent are from Illinois state prison inmates. The most common complaint, Mills added, is about medical treatment. Based on these and other factors, including recent opinions issued by federal judges on other prison inmates' lawsuits, Jason said, "we decided to turn the matter into a class action."

"We are only requesting injunctive relief" for the claims of inadequate medical treatment, Kristine clarified. "We're not looking for the state to shell out damages. We really are just looking for [the Illinois Department of Corrections] and Wexford [Health Sources] to come up with some policies and procedures to change the system."