SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Corrections will pay an inmate $4 million after he was left brain damaged following a beating by his cellmate, who had a known history of mental illness and violence.
The attack on Ryan Alwine, 26, happened on Sept. 7, 2006 at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton. His attorney, Mark Shepherd, says Alwine was dragged from his bunk by his new cellmate, Eddie Hopkins, beaten and stomped on the head for several minutes.
Alwine was left in a coma for four months and unable to eat, drink, swallow or breathe on his own. Shepherd says Alwine suffered multiple facial fractures and deep lacerations, endured several surgeries and has suffered from seizures ever since.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to Ryan for the pain and suffering he has endured," said DOC Secretary Eldon Vail in a written statement. "This settlement will enable him to continue receiving the medical and rehabilitative care he needs for his lifetime following this senseless, violent act."
Shepherd says Hopkins had a long history of mental illness and violence, and that written assessments by the DOC determined that, "He cannot be safely housed with another offender." Shepherd contends that DOC personnel either failed to obtain his history of mental illness or chose to ignore it.
"While Ryan's injuries were inflicted on him by another inmate, there are things we could have done differently that may have prevented this tragedy," said Vail.
Since the incident, the DOC says the corrections center now screens all readmission electronic records and has improved access to mental health providers. A Behavior Alert Specialist is now on staff to help make decisions on where to house inmates.
Alwine was weeks away from completing his sentence. He now lives with his mother in Cowlitz County.
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