ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a $2.5 million settlement in a Bernalillo County jail beating case.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that officers at the Metropolitan Detention Center beat Avery Hadley in 2008 and 2009. In one incident, Hadley's head was stomped on so severely that he has permanent brain damage and a titanium plate in his head.
A conservator for Hadley sued county officials in 2010, alleging that the jail was unsafe for inmates, and that corrections officers weren't properly trained and supervised.
The settlement announced Tuesday includes attorneys' fees and $600,000 for medical expenses. Another $1.5 million goes into a trust account for Hadley.
Publicity about the beatings led to criminal prosecutions.
Jail director Ramon Rustin says the jail has since improved staff training and overall reporting.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.