Armor Correctional Health Services which provide healthcare to correctional facilities, has had to deal with a number of legal difficulties throughout the years. People have made a range of accusations, including medical mistakes, unexpected deaths and ignoring the needs of many. This article looks into some of the biggest Health Services Lawsuits, their effects and the overall picture of privatized healthcare for prisoners.
Major Lawsuits and Allegations
1. Misty Williamson Case took place in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
In 2016, a pneumonia case made Misty Williamson, a 44-year-old who was in jail, die from septic shock. It was claimed by the lawsuit that Armor staff delayed giving medical care and getting the patient to an emergency room. In August 2023, a jury decided to give her family $16 million which includes $6 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. In the end, punitive damages were removed by the court, so the award amounted to $6 million.
| Case Type | Estimated Financial Impact (in millions USD) | Notes |
| Misty Williamson Wrongful Death | 6.0 (final award) | Largest compensatory damages case |
| NY False Claims Act Settlement | 0.35 | Legal fees paid |
| Estimated Cost of COVID-19 Lawsuit | N/A (pending / unknown) | Impact largely reputational |
| Total Unsecured Debt | 153 | Represents overall financial strain |
2. Duval County Jail COVID-19 Outbreak
The outbreak of COVID-19 in the Duval County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida, led to over 197 infections in 2020. According to the lawsuit, the managers of Armor failed to control the outbreak and this is what caused it to spread. The case demonstrated that there were problems with the healthcare given to prisoners during the pandemic.
3. Lawsuit under the New York False Claims Act
In that same year, the New York Attorney General brought a lawsuit against Armor under the state’s False Claims Act, claiming both a breach of contract and fraudulent activities. The purpose of the lawsuit was to prohibit Armor from bidding on future health services contracts in New York and call for the selection of an independent monitor to see thatthe settlement is followed. Armor thus agreed not to bid for work in New York for three years and paid $350,000 to the lawyers for their work.
| Case Type | Estimated Financial Impact (in millions USD) | Notes |
| Misty Williamson Wrongful Death | 6.0 (final award) | Largest compensatory damages case |
| NY False Claims Act Settlement | 0.35 | Legal fees paid |
| Estimated Cost of COVID-19 Lawsuit | N/A (pending / unknown) | Impact largely reputational |
| Total Unsecured Debt | 153 | Represents overall financial strain |
Financial Implications and Company Status
The problems with the law have greatly affected Armor’s finances. In October 2023, the company revealed it has unsecured debt worth a total of $153 million. Among its debts are money owed to staff, consultants, lawyers and families of those affected by its poor medical care. With insolvency looming, Armor decided to sell assets and look to transfer the management of its jails to Enhanced Management Services.
