Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents survivors of sexually abusive behavior which occurred at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin in California.
Key takeaways:
- Numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging systematic sexual violence and retaliation at FCI Dublin against women. Prisoners have alleged that they have endured “horrific” abuse and have been retaliated against for reporting the abuse.
- The lawsuits allege that prison officials, including a former warden, knew the abuse was occurring and did nothing to stop it.
- The U.S. Department of Justice, in March 2024, announced that a seventh correctional officer at FCI Dublin, Nakie Nunley, had been sentenced to prison after admitting to engaging in sexual acts with multiple prisoners at FCI Dublin.
- Surviors of sexual abuse which occurred at FCI Dublin may qualify to file an FCI Dublin lawsuit seeking monetary compensation for emotional trauma, therapy and long-term mental health costs, pain, suffering, lost wages and more.
If you or a loved one is a sexual abuse survivor, we urge you to partner with our empathetic team of lawyers to fight for justice and begin a path towards recovery. Our trauma-informed lawyers will carefully listen to your story with consideration and care and explain how you can proceed with a claim.
We recognize how strong one needs to be to report sexual abuse. We commend survivors for sharing their stories. Together, we can expose the truth, fight for change, and empower other survivors to fight for change as well.
Our legal team can help you fight for justice, closure and compensation while fighting to prevent abuse from happening again.
Call our experienced sexual abuse lawyers today at (800) 718-4658 or contact us for a FREE consultation if you or a loved one was sexually abused at FCI Dublin.
Table of Contents
- Overview of FCI Dublin Prison Lawsuits
- Who Can File an FCI Dublin Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
- Liability in the FCI Dublin Abuse Lawsuits
- What Your FCI Dublin Settlement Could Be Worth
- Key Evidence in a Prison Abuse Claim
- Deadlines to File an FCI Dublin Abuse Claim
- Contact Our Sexual Abuse Attorneys Today
Overview of FCI Dublin Prison Lawsuits
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin in California over staff sexual abuse.
The lawsuits led to a December 2024 $115.8 million settlement as well as a consent decree which mandated system-wide reforms.
Class Action Lawsuit
- Plaintiffs: Eight survivors of sexual abuse and retaliation by prison employees.
- Filing date: August 16, 2023
- Key allegations: Systemic sexual assault by staff, inadequate mental and medical healthcare, sexual coercion, targeting of immigrant women, rampant degrading sexual comments, and retaliation against prisoners who reported any misconduct.
- Court action: In March 2024, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction which called FCI Dublin “a dysfunctional mess,” appointing a special master for the overseeing of reforms.
- Outcome: The lawsuit was part of a broader legal action over the longstanding abuse crisis which led to a settlement and consent decree in December 2024.
Settlement and Consent Decree
- Settlement amount: The United States Department of Justice agreed to a $115.8 million settlement with 103 women who filed lawsuits over experiences at the federal women’s prison.
- Separate consent decree: A separate settlement includes a Federal Bureau of Prisons consent decree which requires system-wide reforms which address sexual and physical abuse.
- Prisons: The consent decree was to be enforced at over a dozen federal women’s prisons where almost 500 former inmates at FCI Dublin were housed.
Key terms of the consent decree:
- Monitoring of treatment regarding women who are transferred from the prison
- Expungement of disciplinary reports which were used to silence victims
- Mandated release of some plaintiffs to halfway houses or home confinement
- Ongoing monitoring of compliance across numerous facilities
- The Bureau of Prisons being required to issue a public, formal acknowledgement of the abuse that occurred at the facility
- Restoration of early release credits which were lost because of transfers
- Housing class members in lower security facilities and closer to their families
Broader Context
- Closure of FCI Dublin: The prison, which had been known as “the rape club,” was closed in April 2024 amidst public attention and litigation.
- Criminal charges: Eight former staff members, including former warden Ray Garcia, saw sex crime charges after a massive criminal investigation, representing a historic number regarding a federal prison.
Darrell Wayne Smith Lawsuit
- A lawsuit was filed on December 18, 2023, alleging that a plaintiff was sexually assaulted, abused and harassed by Darrell Wayne “Dirty Dick” Smith at FCI Dublin from 2019 to 2022.
- The lawsuit alleged that Smith “earned” his nickname via a “persistent history” of sexually abusing inmates at the facility.
- The lawsuit claimed that Bureau of Prisons leadership, prior to the abuse of the plaintiff, knew about Smith’s history of sexually abusing prisoners, yet kept him in a position which gave him unsupervised, wide access to prisoners at the facility.
Enrique Chavez Lawsuit
- A lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division on March 7, 2024, alleging that a plaintiff was sexually assaulted multiple times by Enrique Chavez at FCI Dublin in 2021.
- The lawsuit alleges that, when the plaintiff tried to stop the alleged abuse, Chavez responded, “Do you want to lose your good time? You know I can take you to the SHU (Special Housing Unit).”
- The lawsuit also alleges that, when the plaintiff tried to stop the abuse, Chavez mentioned the plaintiff had an immigration detainer, as well as that he knew where her kids lived.
- The lawsuit also claims that the plaintiff was forced to be a lookout for defendants Andrew Jones and Cedric Kinlaw while they were sexually abusing other prisoners.
- The lawsuit alleges that former warden Ray Garcia knew abuse was occurring at the facility, did nothing to stop it, and in fact was, himself, “a serial rapist.”
Nakie Nunley
- Nakie Nunley, on September 5, 2023, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, and making false statements.
- It was announced in March 2024 that Nunley was sentenced to 72 months in prison for the sexual abuse of five FCI Dublin inmates.
- Nunley was the seventh correctional officer sentenced in the scandal over the rampant sexual abuse at FCI Dublin.
- Nunley supervised prisoners who were working for UNICOR, which is a trade name for federal prison industries.
- Nunley’s victims worked at a UNICOR call center when he abused them.
- Nunley admitted to retaliating against prisoners who made complaints about his conduct, including forcing an inmate to pull her underwear down and bend over in order to keep her UNICOR job, following by slapping the inmate’s buttocks numerous times.
- Nunley’s conviction is one of several recent cases involving federal employees abusing their authority, similar to the Dr. Scott Lee sexual abuse lawsuit, where survivors also came forward after years of institutional silence.
- Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is now investigating claims by inmates who were abused by Nunley or other staff members at FCI Dublin.
Who Can File an FCI Dublin Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
- Women incarcerated at FCI Dublin who were sexually abused at the facility can file a lawsuit seeking justice and compensation.
- Survivors who were sexually abused by Nunley or others while incarcerated at the now shuttered federal prison may qualify to file a lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons and others.
- Lawsuits would include Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claims against the Bureau of Prisons for negligent supervision or hiring.
Liability in the FCI Dublin Abuse Lawsuits
Parties who can be held liable in FCI Dublin abuse lawsuits include:
- The Bureau of Prisons (the federal prison system)
- Individual officers or FCI Dublin officials
Plaintiffs are entitled to recover damages from the federal government, under the FTCA, for the omissions or wrongful acts of its employees. Thus, the Bureau of Prisons can be held liable for:
- Sexual assault and sexual battery
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Sexual harassment
- Civil rights violations
- Gender violence
- Invasion of privacy
- Negligence
- Negligent infliction of emotional distress
In addition, individual officers, in FCI Dublin lawsuits, may be held liable for:
- Cruel and unusual punishment
- Sex trafficking
- Forced labor
- Obstruction
- Conspiracy to violate the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
Unfortunately, abuse like this is far from isolated. Many survivors of sexual misconduct in custody also endure illegal strip searches and other institutional violations.
What Your FCI Dublin Settlement Could Be Worth
Under settlements which were approved in December 2024, according to the Associated Press, the Justice Department agreed to pay an average of around $1.1 million to 103 women who filed lawsuits against the Bureau of Prisons over their treatment at FCI Dublin.
If you or a loved one was sexually abused at FCI Dublin, you may qualify for financial compensation for:
Medical Expenses
It is common for survivors to need medical treatment for injuries which resulted from abuse, including:
- Surgeries
- Emergency room visits
- Future medical care
- Rehabilitation services
Survivors often require ongoing treatment for health issues years after their abuse. Compensation can cover past as well as anticipated future medical expenses.
Counseling and Psychological Costs
Sexual abuse has a profound psychological and emotional toll. Survivors often experience PTSD, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Medication, psychiatric treatment and long-term therapy might be needed for healing.
Damages are often awarded by courts for:
- Specialized trauma therapy-related expenses
- The projected costs of future psychological and mental health care
- Past counseling and therapy expenses
It is vital to support mental health recovery. There are significant costs which are associated with services like these that the law recognizes.
Pain and Suffering
Survivors are entitled to compensation for physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by their abuse.
Pain and suffering compensation will be based on:
- Abuse severity
- How long the survivor suffered
- Any impact on the quality of life of the survivor
Compensation for pain and suffering acknowledges the intangible, profound consequences of sexual assault.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
Being sexually abused can disrupt the ability to work, career and education of a survivor.
Survivors commonly:
- See a permanent altering of their career trajectory
- End up with reduced earning potential
- Miss work because of physical or psychological recovery
Compensation can help cover lost wages as well as estimate lost earning potential in the future, providing survivors with financial stability which may have been jeopardized by their abuse.
Survivors who lost a UNICOR job in retaliation for complaining about or reporting their abuse may qualify for compensation for any income lost as a result.
Lost Enjoyment of Life
Survivors commonly find that their abuse permanently impacts their ability to enjoy experiences and activities they once enjoyed. This may involve relationship problems, day-to-day happiness or hobbies. Abuse can take more than just financial or physical tolls, and courts award loss of enjoyment of life damages to recognize this.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the behavior of perpetrators was especially egregious or malicious. These damages are intended to punish wrongdoers and deter future similar conduct.
These damages can be quite substantial, and send strong messages that sexual abuse is condemned by society.
Key Evidence in a Prison Abuse Claim
Our lawyers can file a claim on your behalf and gather evidence such as:
- Records showing that you were incarcerated at FCI Dublin
- Documentation, communications or complaints regarding Nunley or other staff
- Records showing retaliation, such as job loss or job transfer, after a complaint
- Medical or psychological records indicating trauma from abuse
- Witness statements
Deadlines to File an FCI Dublin Abuse Claim
There is a deadline to file your FCI Dublin abuse claim. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations.
- The statute of limitations for sexual assault in California, for adult survivors, is 10 years after the abuse, or three years after discovering that an injury or illness resulted from the abuse, whichever comes later.
- Administrative FTCA claims must be filed by current or former federal inmates within two years of discovering negligence on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons.
- This two-year clock may start when survivors learn about Department of Justice investigations, not the abuse itself.
- Thus, survivors may still qualify to file a lawsuit even if their abuse occurred years ago.
- Acting quickly helps preserve your right to compensation under both California and federal law.
- Calling a lawyer as soon as possible helps make sure evidence can be preserved, gives your lawyer the most time possible to build a strong case, and ensures all legal deadlines are comfortably met.
Contact Our Sexual Abuse Attorneys Today
Our trauma-informed legal team provides survivors with a supportive, comforting setting, empowering survivors to find their voices and fight for justice.
We fight for institutional change and justice for survivors, preventing future abuse and exposing systemic wrongdoing by holding institutions and individuals accountable for abuse.
We will provide you with a safe place where we will compassionately listen to your story and answer any questions you have. We will provide you with empathetic legal guidance and explain your legal rights clearly.
When you feel ready to share your story, call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one survived sexual abuse at FCI Dublin.
