Huge jury award over prison care
A jury awarded Kohchise Jackson $307.6 million after finding the private contractor Corizon prioritized profits over care, spotlighting alleged prison‑health neglect tied to a denied $919 surgery. (x.com) The award and surrounding commentary have circulated widely on social platforms as an example of litigation over correctional healthcare failures. (x.com)
A Michigan jury awarded Kohchise Jackson $307.6 million against Corizon Health after finding the private prison healthcare provider neglected his medical needs. The verdict came on April 10, 2026, following a week-long trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. (freep.com) Jackson, incarcerated at Grawey Facility in Chelsea, Michigan, suffered a broken jaw in 2019 that required oral surgery costing $919. Corizon denied approval for the procedure, citing cost, which led to chronic pain, infections, and additional health complications over four years. (detroitnews.com) The jury determined Corizon's policies prioritized profits over inmate care, including a "fail first" protocol that delayed treatments unless cheaper options failed first. Jackson's attorney, Allison Dahlin, said Corizon denied over 80% of specialist referrals in similar cases. (mlive.com) Corizon, formerly the largest private provider of prison healthcare in the U.S., managed medical services for Michigan's Department of Corrections under a $67 million annual contract until 2023. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2023 amid thousands of lawsuits alleging substandard care, emerging rebranded as Tehum Care Services. (wsj.com) This case echoes broader scrutiny of privatized prison healthcare, where firms like Corizon served 350,000 inmates across 30 states but faced over 1,000 lawsuits since 2010 for deaths and injuries tied to denied care. A 2022 federal report found Michigan inmates died at twice the state average rate under Corizon. (propublica.org) Corizon disputed the verdict, stating in a filing it would appeal and that Jackson's injuries stemmed from his assault, not solely their care. The company claimed it followed MDOC protocols and provided pain medication and antibiotics during his incarceration. (clickondetroit.com) Plaintiff attorney Ben Crump, who posted the verdict on X, called it "a win for every prisoner mistreated by corporate greed." The award breaks down to $657,000 in economic damages and $307 million in punitive damages to deter future neglect. (x.com) Michigan ended its Corizon contract in 2023, switching to Wellpath, but inmates report ongoing issues like medication delays. Jackson, now released, awaits payment pending appeals that could take years. (bridge michigan.com)
