Prisoners' Asbestos-Related First and Eighth Amendment Case Dismissed

NEW YORK - Present and former inmates of a New York correctional facility have failed to present evidence that their alleged exposure to friable asbestos in the prison constituted violations of their First and Eighth Amendment rights, a federal district court in New York has ruled, dismissing the case and granting summary judgment in favor of defendants. Crawford, et al. v. Artuz, et al., No. 98cv0425 (S.D. N.Y.).

In its March 22 decision, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that the correctional facility's actions were reasonable and that no jury could find that the …