Denver, Colorado – John Snorsky, a prison inmate serving a 30-year sentence for attempted kidnapping, recently received a $1.1 million settlement from the Colorado Department of Corrections. This settlement marks one of the largest agreements between an inmate and the state’s corrections department.
In a federal lawsuit, Snorsky alleged that DOC employees failed to protect him from a violent prison gang after he agreed to assist investigators in a murder case within the prison system. The lawsuit claimed that Snorsky was left vulnerable to multiple assaults, including a brutal attack where he was stabbed 43 times by fellow inmates.
According to Denver attorney Erica Grossman, who represented Snorsky in the lawsuit, the attack was a direct result of Snorsky’s cooperation with authorities. Grossman emphasized that Snorsky had requested protective custody after becoming an informant against a high-ranking white supremacist gang.
The lawsuit, filed by Snorsky himself, accused DOC employees of intentionally exposing him to a series of violent assaults by fellow inmates. Despite Snorsky’s pleas for protective custody, the lawsuit alleged that prison staff ignored his requests and allowed the attacks to occur.
The incident involving Snorsky drew media attention due to his high-profile kidnapping case in 2013, which resulted in a 30-year prison sentence. Snorsky, who is not eligible for parole for another 10 years, continues to serve his sentence within the Colorado DOC system.
As for the $1.1 million settlement, it remains unclear how the money will be distributed to an inmate still serving a significant prison term. The case sheds light on the challenges faced by inmates who cooperate with authorities and the responsibilities of prison staff to ensure their safety while incarcerated. The agreement between Snorsky and the Colorado DOC highlights the complexities of managing a prison population and the legal consequences of failing to protect inmates from harm.