Petrusak v. State

Paul Petrusak, a former inmate at the Pontiac Correctional Center, brought this action sounding in tort for personal injuries received in a stabbing incident while he was incarcerated. A hearing was held by Commissioner John Simpson, briefs were filed, and the Commissioner filed his report. This is a serious matter and the Court has given it careful consideration.

The State is not an insurer as to the safety of an inmate in its custody. It does however have a duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent its inmates from suffering harm at the hands of other inmates. What…