Michigan settles prison abuse class-action for $100M.

The AP (7/15) reported, "Michigan has agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by more than 500 female inmates who claimed they were sexually assaulted, abused and harassed by male corrections staff. Gov. Jennifer Granholm authorized the settlement after juries in two trials returned with verdicts that, with interest, would have totaled nearly $60 million, Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said." A jury in 2008 "awarded 10 female inmates $15.5 million for abuse they suffered at the hands of male staff at Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth. A second jury awarded more than $8 million to female inmates at another facility."
The Detroit Free Press (7/15, Seidel) reported, "'This is a good deal for the state,' said Deborah LaBelle, the lead lawyer for the women. 'The damage had gone on so long and the harm had occurred was so deep. If we tried all of these, the cost to the state would have been a billion dollars.'"