Lawsuit: Rocks In Prison Taco Damaged Inmate's Teeth
GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ/AP) - A lawsuit against the state's former prison food service contractor says an inmate in Michigan's Upper Peninsula damaged his teeth on rocks in a taco.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, says Jeffrey Glen Spates was eating at Chippewa Correctional Facility in May 2014 when he bit three rocks, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
Spates swallowed one rock while one of his front teeth cracked in half and four others were chipped, according to the report, resulting in months of pain and dental surgery.
The 48-year-old is asking for $10,000 for cosmetic surgery and $25,000 in damages.
A spokeswoman for Philadelphia-based Aramark Correctional Services, which was the state's prison food contractor at the time, said Wednesday that the company hadn't yet seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.
Another company replaced Aramark as Michigan's prison food contractor last year. Aramark had faced fines for unapproved menu substitutions, worker misconduct and other issues.
According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Spates' criminal history dates back to the late 80s and includes convictions for multiple larcenies, escape from felony jail, second-degree home invasion, unlawfully driving away an automobile, and breaking and entering a building with intent.
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