300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well

Photos and his statement of claim at
<http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0427081arkansas1.html>

On 29 Apr 2008 00:30:35 -0000, mike.butler1 DeleteThis @toyotaofdallas.org (Mike
Butler) wrote:

>http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idWkXe83S_P4-p3LOoRYwgdjLHSQD90ARFHO5
>
>300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well
>12 hours ago
>
>BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is
>suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of
>the jailhouse menu.
>
>Broderick Lloyd Laswell says he isn't happy that he's down to 308 pounds
>after eight months in the Benton County jail. He has filed a federal
>lawsuit complaining the jail doesn't provide inmates with enough food.
>
>According to the suit, Laswell weighed 413 pounds when he was jailed in
>September. Police say he and a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man,
>then set his home on fire.
>
>"On several occasions I have started to do some exercising and my vision
>went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out," Laswell wrote in his
>complaint. "About an hour after each meal my stomach starts to hurt and
>growl. I feel hungry again."
>
>But Laswell then goes on to complain that he undertakes little vigorous
>activity.
>
>"If we are in a small pod all day (and) do next to nothing for physical
>exercise, we should not lose weight," the suit says. "The only reason we
>lost weight in here is because we are literally being starved to death."
>
>The suit also asks that the county be ordered to serve hot meals. The jail
>has served only cold food for years.
>
>The meals, provided through Aramark Correctional Institution Services,
>average 3,000 calories a day, jail Capt. Hunter Petray told The Morning
>News of northwest Arkansas for a story Saturday.
>
>A typical Western diet consists of 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day.
>
>Laswell's suit was filed without a lawyer in U.S. District Court in
>Fayetteville
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Apr 29, 1:42 pm, The Master <tar....TakeThisOut@nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam>
wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, Grendel wrote:
> >>> BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge
> >>> is suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds
> >>> because of the jailhouse menu.
>
> > He's in jail for a reason (murder, in this case).
>
> Accused of murder, but not yet convicted.

Granted. I took it for granted that everyone read the article. If he
is convicted, he will be in prison, not jail.

> > Jail should not be
> > enjoyable.  There is no requirement that the system provide for an
> > inmates comfort and every whim.
>
> I agree, provided he is convicted.  But if he is found not guilty, THEN
> AND ONLY THEN should be be allowed to sue.

Sue on what basis? Not on food. He is being afforded sufficient
calories, and edible food. The county is under no obligation to feed
him more, or better, than any other prisoner.

Now, if her were Muslim, he would be within rights to ask for a meal
free of pork. If he had medical reasons for a different diet, then he
is within his right to ask for that. And it would be the
responsibility of the county to provide it.

They are not under any obligation to overfeed a pig. So there is no
basis for a lawsuit based on "They wouldn't feed me my Deep Fried
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches."

Yol Bolsun,
Grendel.

“It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful.”-Anton LaVey
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, doomella wrote:

>> A fat person has no chance in the justice system. Starvation of a
>> prisoner amounts to torture.
>
> This "torture" is probably saving this murderous tub of lard's life,
> unfortunately.

One small point: ACCUSED of murder, not convicted. He is awaiting trial.
What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?

I for one say if he's convicted of the crime, tuff luck, jail is
PUNISHMENT. On the other hand, if he is found not guilty, the man did
nothing wrong but was punished anyhow. In that case, I hope he find a
good lawyer, and sues the county of every dime they have.
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

"The Master" <tardis.RemoveThis@nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.64.0804291837370.23097@sdf.lonestar.org...
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, doomella wrote:
>
>>> A fat person has no chance in the justice system. Starvation of a
>>> prisoner amounts to torture.
>>
>> This "torture" is probably saving this murderous tub of lard's life,
>> unfortunately.
>
> One small point: ACCUSED of murder, not convicted. He is awaiting trial.
> What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?
>
> I for one say if he's convicted of the crime, tuff luck, jail is
> PUNISHMENT. On the other hand, if he is found not guilty, the man did
> nothing wrong but was punished anyhow. In that case, I hope he find a
> good lawyer, and sues the county of every dime they have.

Of course. But not for the suggested cruel and unusual "injustice" of a
3,000-calorie diet.
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

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 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

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 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

In article
<bf0ab106-07ff-40bc-9479-4bf942776c95.TakeThisOut@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com>,
Gregory Morrow <gregorymorrow.TakeThisOut@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article
> > <2b0b8b7b-b668-4247-904b-78680475b....TakeThisOut@k10g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
> >
> >  joanne <jgr....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > On Apr 28, 5:30 pm, mike.butl....TakeThisOut@toyotaofdallas.org (Mike Butler)
> > > wrote:
> > > >http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idWkXe83SP4-p3LOoRYwgdjLHSQD90ARFHO5
> >
> > > > 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well
> > > >  complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds
> > > > after eight months in the Benton County jail.
> >
> > > The guy has lost 105lbs in EIGHT months which is is about 13lbs a
> > > month
> > > or a bit over three lbs a week - BFD! thats not starvation - and he is
> > > probably
> > > better off for losing it!  Face it, the man doesnt know what real
> > > hunger is.
> >
> > The man does not know what a normal food intake is, or he'd never have
> > weighed that much. He needs counseling.
>
>
> I wonder how much of that weight was "beer weight", Om...I bet not
> ingesting a coupla cases of beer per day helps in "reducing"...
>
>
> --
> Best
> Greg

No doubt.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Apr 28, 5:30 pm, mike.butl....TakeThisOut@toyotaofdallas.org (Mike Butler)
wrote:
> http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idWkXe83S_P4-p3LOoRYwgdjLHSQD90ARFHO5
>
> 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well
> 12 hours ago
>
> BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — An inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge is
> suing the county, complaining he has lost more than 100 pounds because of
> the jailhouse menu.
>
> Broderick Lloyd Laswell says he isn't happy that he's down to 308 pounds
> after eight months in the Benton County jail. He has filed a federal
> lawsuit complaining the jail doesn't provide inmates with enough food.
>
> According to the suit, Laswell weighed 413 pounds when he was jailed in
> September. Police say he and a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man,
> then set his home on fire.
>
> "On several occasions I have started to do some exercising and my vision
> went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out," Laswell wrote in his
> complaint. "About an hour after each meal my stomach starts to hurt and
> growl. I feel hungry again."
>
> But Laswell then goes on to complain that he undertakes little vigorous
> activity.
>
> "If we are in a small pod all day (and) do next to nothing for physical
> exercise, we should not lose weight," the suit says. "The only reason we
> lost weight in here is because we are literally being starved to death."
>
> The suit also asks that the county be ordered to serve hot meals. The jail
> has served only cold food for years.
>
> The meals, provided through Aramark Correctional Institution Services,
> average 3,000 calories a day, jail Capt. Hunter Petray told The Morning
> News of northwest Arkansas for a story Saturday.


Let me call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAmblulance for him. If he is indeed
guilty, fry his ass.
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, doomella wrote:

>> I for one say if he's convicted of the crime, tuff luck, jail is
>> PUNISHMENT. On the other hand, if he is found not guilty, the man did
>> nothing wrong but was punished anyhow. In that case, I hope he find a
>> good lawyer, and sues the county of every dime they have.
>
> Of course. But not for the suggested cruel and unusual "injustice" of a
> 3,000-calorie diet.

The story said that he is hungry again after a couple hours. That means
that they are not feeding him the volume of food he normally consumed.

His personal liberties and freedoms are suspended, while awaiting trial.
And like I said, if he is convicted, his liberties and freedoms ARE
suspended, so tuff luck. But if he is found not guilty, then that
suspension was unjustly forced upon him, and he is entitled to
compensation.
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008, ultimauw DeleteThis @hotmail.com wrote:

>> In that case, an innocent man or woman would be forced to give up a huge
>> chunk of their life, because the police and district attorney screwed up.
>> I'm not saying give him more food now. I'm saying give him a boat load
>> of money if he is found not guilty.
>
> Agreed. However, if he is truly guilty, he gets no sympathy from me.

That I totally agree with. Prison is a punishment, and punishment should
be "unplesant"...
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

On Apr 30, 9:24 am, The Master <tar... DeleteThis @nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam>
wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, wstho... DeleteThis @bellsouth.net wrote:
> >>> Jail should not be
> >>> enjoyable.  There is no requirement that the system provide for an
> >>> inmates comfort and every whim.
>
> >> I agree, provided he is convicted.  But if he is found not guilty, THEN
> >> AND ONLY THEN should be be allowed to sue.
>
> > Sue on what basis?  Not on food.
>
> Wrongful prosecution, violation of civil rights, stuff like that

Only if he can prove gross misconduct, or gross negligence, on the
part of the police. Obviously there was enogh evidence for a grand
jury to indict him. Even if he is found not guilty, it does not
equate to wrongful prosection or violation of civil rights.

.>  And as
> apart of that, yes, for not enough food too.  If he is found not guilty,
> his rights and liberties were unjustly taken away from him.

That is not necessarily so. No where does it state that you have a
right not to be charged, even if innocent.

>  Mind you, if
> he was out on bond, he wouldn't have a case...
>
> On that side note, since murderers are at times allowed to get out on
> bond, was this guy given a bail amount his family can't pay, or was bail
> denied due to the circumstances of the murder?

Bond was denied. Contributing factors for this would be sufficient
amount of evidence and the fact that he was on probation at the time
of the alleged crime.

> > He is being afforded sufficient
> > calories, and edible food.  The county is under no obligation to feed
> > him more, or better, than any other prisoner.
>
> If he is convicted, I agree totally.  But if he is found not guilty, he
> was a prisoner unjustly.  That is why I say it depends on the outcome of
> his trial.
>
> > Now, if her were Muslim, he would be within rights to ask for a meal
> > free of pork. If he had medical reasons for a different diet, then he
> > is within his right to ask for that.
>
> He obviously has a medical reason for needing more food.  

If there were a true medical reason, he would have been supplied with
the proper food. Being and Obese Slob is not a medical necessity.

> Only 3,000 cals
> a day makes him hungry!  

3,000 calories a day is sufficient for a person to survive. That is
all the is entitled to.

> > They are not under any obligation to overfeed a pig.
>
> If he is found not guilty, the county forcefully confined him, kept him
> from work, property used to secure debts may have been taken, and he faced
> physical discumfort.  Sorry, but I think under those circumstances, he has
> a case.

Seeing as he has a prior record, and there was obviously enough
evidence for a grand jury to indict him on a capital murder charge,
even if found guilty, it's doubtful he has a case.

So he was confined...that happens when you're charged with murder.

So he was kept from work...it's not obvious he had a job to begin
with, and it's not the polices responsibility to make sure you go to
work. Same with the depts.

And for the physical discomfort, there is no guaranteed right to be
comfortable, either in or out of jail.

> > So there is no
> > basis for a lawsuit based on "They wouldn't feed me my Deep Fried
> > Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches."
>
> There are cases of wrongful prosecution, however.

For a wrongful, or malicious, prosecution case to be successful, the
person wronged must prove: probable cause, malice on the part of the
police and damages. Simply being inconvenienced is not enough.

Yol Bolsun,
Grendel.

"Life as we know it" does not exist.
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

In article
<176f9183-1398-4e87-8571-e747712cd880 RemoveThis @c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>,
wsthomas RemoveThis @bellsouth.net wrote:

> On Apr 30, 9:24 am, The Master <tar... RemoveThis @nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam>
> wrote:
> > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008, wstho... RemoveThis @bellsouth.net wrote:
> > >>> Jail should not be
> > >>> enjoyable.  There is no requirement that the system provide for an
> > >>> inmates comfort and every whim.
> >
> > >> I agree, provided he is convicted.  But if he is found not guilty, THEN
> > >> AND ONLY THEN should be be allowed to sue.
> >
> > > Sue on what basis?  Not on food.
> >
> > Wrongful prosecution, violation of civil rights, stuff like that
>
> Only if he can prove gross misconduct, or gross negligence, on the
> part of the police. Obviously there was enogh evidence for a grand
> jury to indict him. Even if he is found not guilty, it does not
> equate to wrongful prosection or violation of civil rights.
>
> .>  And as
> > apart of that, yes, for not enough food too.  If he is found not guilty,
> > his rights and liberties were unjustly taken away from him.
>
> That is not necessarily so. No where does it state that you have a
> right not to be charged, even if innocent.
>
> >  Mind you, if
> > he was out on bond, he wouldn't have a case...
> >
> > On that side note, since murderers are at times allowed to get out on
> > bond, was this guy given a bail amount his family can't pay, or was bail
> > denied due to the circumstances of the murder?
>
> Bond was denied. Contributing factors for this would be sufficient
> amount of evidence and the fact that he was on probation at the time
> of the alleged crime.
>
> > > He is being afforded sufficient
> > > calories, and edible food.  The county is under no obligation to feed
> > > him more, or better, than any other prisoner.
> >
> > If he is convicted, I agree totally.  But if he is found not guilty, he
> > was a prisoner unjustly.  That is why I say it depends on the outcome of
> > his trial.
> >
> > > Now, if her were Muslim, he would be within rights to ask for a meal
> > > free of pork. If he had medical reasons for a different diet, then he
> > > is within his right to ask for that.
> >
> > He obviously has a medical reason for needing more food.  
>
> If there were a true medical reason, he would have been supplied with
> the proper food. Being and Obese Slob is not a medical necessity.
>
> > Only 3,000 cals
> > a day makes him hungry!  
>
> 3,000 calories a day is sufficient for a person to survive. That is
> all the is entitled to.
>
> > > They are not under any obligation to overfeed a pig.
> >
> > If he is found not guilty, the county forcefully confined him, kept him
> > from work, property used to secure debts may have been taken, and he faced
> > physical discumfort.  Sorry, but I think under those circumstances, he has
> > a case.
>
> Seeing as he has a prior record, and there was obviously enough
> evidence for a grand jury to indict him on a capital murder charge,
> even if found guilty, it's doubtful he has a case.
>
> So he was confined...that happens when you're charged with murder.
>
> So he was kept from work...it's not obvious he had a job to begin
> with, and it's not the polices responsibility to make sure you go to
> work. Same with the depts.
>
> And for the physical discomfort, there is no guaranteed right to be
> comfortable, either in or out of jail.
>
> > > So there is no
> > > basis for a lawsuit based on "They wouldn't feed me my Deep Fried
> > > Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches."
> >
> > There are cases of wrongful prosecution, however.
>
> For a wrongful, or malicious, prosecution case to be successful, the
> person wronged must prove: probable cause, malice on the part of the
> police and damages. Simply being inconvenienced is not enough.
>
> Yol Bolsun,
> Grendel.
>
> "Life as we know it" does not exist.

If he's been i prison for 8 months, odds are there is something to it.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well 

In article <Pine.NEB.4.64.0805020927140.124.TakeThisOut@sdf.lonestar.org>,
The Master <tardis.TakeThisOut@nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam> wrote:

> And I have continued to say that he needs to go to trial first, for the
> murder charge. If the evidence is enough to convict him, fantastic and
> yippy skippy, he no longer has a case.
>
> They found OJ's blood too you know, yet the LAPD couldn't get a
> conviction.

That is because they did not follow SOP on evidence collection and
storage.

>
> > My opinion of him, based on the facts of the case that I've been able
> > to research, is that he is an idiot,
>
> Most criminals are. The smart criminals become politicians.

Good one.
--
--

Peace! Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a Bitch."
-- Jack Nicholson
 >> Stay informed about: 300-pound inmate complains Ark. jail doesn't feed him well