South Carolina Prison Inmates’ Lawsuit Granted Class-Action Status

In a recent development, a lawsuit filed by four South Carolina prison inmates against the South Carolina Department of Corrections has been granted class-action status. This means that any current or former inmates who may have been underpaid for their work while in prison are now included in the lawsuit. The ruling also extends the case to cover the children, spouses, and estates of deceased inmates who may have a claim.

The four inmates – Damon Jones, Jason Turmon, Ronnie McCoy, and Kevin Casey – filed the lawsuit in September, alleging that they were paid only minimum wage for their work at Shaw Industries, instead of the federally mandated “prevailing wage” that employees in the private sector would receive.

This decision to grant class-action status is significant because it means that a favorable ruling for these four inmates could potentially benefit many others in similar situations. The lawsuit now represents a larger group of individuals who share the same claims of being underpaid for their work while in prison.

This case sheds light on the issue of fair compensation for inmate labor and has the potential to have far-reaching implications for how state prisons compensate their incarcerated workers. It’s a story that will continue to unfold as the legal proceedings progress, and we will keep you updated on any new developments.