Former Cook County jail inmate sues over conditions
A former Cook County jail inmate has filed a lawsuit alleging that for much of the time he was locked up he was denied, food, water and was forced to sleep on the floor.
The lawsuit - which follows another suit this year by inmates alleging they were brutalized by guards - names County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Sheriff Tom Dart and the jail's executive director, Cara Smith.
Lawyers for Marcus Malewski allege that while locked up in May, he and other inmates were subjected to cruel and unusual jail conditions as they were "herded from holding pen to holding pen."
Smith characterized the allegations as "outrageous" and "without any basis in fact." Preckwinkle's office declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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