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Lawsuit Claims Cook County Jail Inmates Were Abused By Guards

(CBS) -- Cook County's Sheriff responded Thursday afternoon to a lawsuit that claims guards at the county jail have created what's being described as a sadistic culture behind bars.

WBBM's Bob Roberts has more on the lawsuit, and the response.

Attorney David Shapiro alleges that jail officers slammed inmates to the floor and stomped, kicked and punched them out of the view of cameras, that officers ordered inmates to fight and that they assault prisoners who request mental healthcare and more.

Lawsuit Claims Cook County Jail Inmates Were Abused By Guards

"The Cook County Jail, the largest jail in the United States, is an ongoing bloodbath and a civic embarrassment to our community," said Shapiro.

Five inmates are named in the suit including lead plaintiff Tylon Hudson who is an accused murderer.

"A federal judge has said that his cases are rooted more in fantasy than in reality. He is their lead plaintiff," said Dart.

Dart says ten other cases filed by Hudson have been thrown out or withdrawn by his own attorneys. Dart says this one will as well.

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