Alabama spends millions on legal representation for lawsuits alleging civil rights violations in its prisons. On Thursday, the Joint Legislative Contract Review Committee approved three contracts totaling $4.8 million for Bill Lunsford of the Huntsville-based law firm Butler Snow.
Millions allocated for legal defense without opposition
In 2023, Lunsford and his firm received significant payouts for similar cases. In July, contracts were amended to award $14.9 million, while June brought an additional $7.68 million. Despite these amounts, lawmakers at Thursday’s meeting raised no objections. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, remarked that Lunsford essentially acts as “a state agency.”
Focus on DOJ lawsuit over prison violence
The most significant portion of Thursday’s allocation came from a $4.5 million contract amendment. This funding supports Alabama’s defense in a Department of Justice lawsuit alleging widespread violence in men’s prisons. According to the DOJ, Alabama’s prisons had the nation’s highest homicide rate for male facilities in 2018. The complaint also reported that 14 incarcerated individuals were killed in 2019.
Additional funds for mental health and civil rights cases
Lunsford received $100,000 to represent ADOC employees in a federal case involving a suicide linked to the Braggs decision. This lawsuit alleges that inadequate mental health care contributed to multiple suicides, including the plaintiff’s son. The Braggs case continues to spotlight deficiencies in Alabama’s prison system.
A final $200,000 contract covers Lunsford’s representation in a Middle District federal case. Plaintiffs claim that DOC employees violated civil rights following suicides in state custody. The agenda stated that additional funds were necessary to protect ADOC employees as litigation proceeds. Alabama’s investment in these legal battles shows the ongoing complexity of prison reform challenges.
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