By C1 Staff
DENVER, Colo. — The city of Denver has hired two private law firms to defend themselves in an alleged case of inmate abuse after their previous counsel withdrew, stating that the city had withheld key evidence.
The Denver Post reports that six private attorneys, led by a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief of the civil division in the district of Colorado, will replace the law firm that previously represented Denver.
Attorneys representing former inmate Jamal Hunter claimed evidence that shows the city attorney’s office pressured Denver police investigators who are now accused of intimidating a witness in the case.
The original lawsuit claims that Hunter was beaten by other inmates after a sheriff’s deputy told them that Hunter was a snitch. Hunter’s attorneys filed a motion on Friday claiming the city attorney’s office tried to influence two Denver police investigators with e-mails that the officers described as “inappropriate.”
The e-mails were handed over last week, even though a previous order by U.S. District Judge John Kane already stated that all documents related to the case were to be shared.
The e-mails show the assistant city attorney asking the investigators to interview a key witness, Amos Page, to defend the city against the lawsuit.
Hunter’s attorneys are seeking punitive sanctions for the city’s failure to disclose the e-mails.