In the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, plaintiffs Ebony Everson, Sabrina Everson, and Bobby Everson Sr. have filed a lawsuit against the United States of America under case ID 1:24-cv-03320 on April 24th, 2024. The suit pertains to the death of Bobby Everson Jr., who was allegedly killed by his cellmate in a federal prison managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Represented by Beldock, Levine & Hoffman LLP and People’s Law Office, the plaintiffs claim that Mr. Everson's death is due to negligence on part of the prison authorities.
On December 15th, 2021, Bobby Everson Jr. was found in a pool of blood after being strangled and beaten by his cellmate Donta Maddox at the United States Penitentiary Thomson. Maddox inflicted severe injuries on Mr. Everson including fractured ribs and face, lacerated liver, blunt force trauma to his head and neck resulting in serious brain injury among others. Despite these injuries, prison employees allegedly restrained Mr. Everson tightly causing further bruising instead of providing adequate medical care.
The lawsuit alleges that BOP's practices led to irreparable physical and mental harm to incarcerated individuals like Mr. Everson who were forced into "double solitary confinement". The complaint also claims that guards failed to protect Mr. Everson from his dangerous cellmate Maddox which resulted in his murder.
The plaintiffs are seeking relief under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against the United States for alleged tortious acts committed by BOP employees at USP Thomson.