A man who claimed he was violently assaulted by a guard at the Auburn Correctional Facility almost nine years ago has been awarded a $1.2 million settlement by the state.
According to the lawsuit, on September 14, 2016, Matthew Raymond, who was then 28 years old, was assaulted by New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Lieutenant Troy Mitchell with repeated blows to the head, neck, chest, and groin. During this beating, Raymond was restrained, handcuffed, and unable to defend himself. Mitchell used his open hand, closed fist, and baton to attack Raymond, assaulting him in a small first aid room at Auburn Correctional Facility. Other correctional officers stood by and did nothing to stop Mitchell’s assault. One sergeant recorded the incident with a handheld video camera. After the incident, defendant Mitchell arranged for the video to be destroyed in an attempt to cover up the assault.
The lawsuit went on to say the beating on September 14 inflicted permanent urological and spinal injuries on Raymond. He developed neurogenic bladder and bladder dysfunction, lost the ability to urinate without a catheter, and ultimately required bladder augmentation surgery in 2020, a major reconstructive surgery. Throughout the rest of his incarceration, Raymond suffered from the lingering emotional effects of the assault, including frequent nightmares, and was constantly concerned about his physical safety. He was repeatedly retaliated against.
Raymond was 28 years old at the time of the incident. He was released from prison in 2020 and now lives in Buffalo with his wife. Raymond was serving a 4-to-8-year sentence in Auburn for a 2015 burglary conviction.
Raymond was represented by Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, a nationally recognized litigation boutique that focuses on civil rights, commercial, criminal, and ethics matters.
According to Raymond’s attorneys, Mitchell’s previous conduct had already cost taxpayers close to $1,000,000 in settlements arising from allegations of violent assault and sexual harassment—from both incarcerated individuals and DOCCS employees—that he perpetrated as a corrections employee.
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