This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/whitey-bulger-wrongful-death.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Relatives of Whitey Bulger Victims on Wrongful Death Claim: ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ What Victims’ Families Think of the Whitey Bulger Wrongful Death Claim
(about 2 hours later)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Patricia Donahue’s husband, Michael, was killed in a spray of bullets in 1982 when he offered a ride to a neighbor whom the mobster James (Whitey) Bulger wanted dead. The murder, which Mr. Bulger was eventually convicted of, left Ms. Donahue a widow, and her three young sons fatherless.CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Patricia Donahue’s husband, Michael, was killed in a spray of bullets in 1982 when he offered a ride to a neighbor whom the mobster James (Whitey) Bulger wanted dead. The murder, which Mr. Bulger was eventually convicted of, left Ms. Donahue a widow, and her three young sons fatherless.
So when Ms. Donahue learned in recent days that Mr. Bulger’s estate had filed a $200 million wrongful death claim against the federal government over Mr. Bulger’s fatal beating in a West Virginia prison, it reopened wounds, she said. So when Ms. Donahue learned in recent days that Mr. Bulger’s estate had filed a $200 million wrongful death claim against the federal government over Mr. Bulger’s fatal beating in a West Virginia prison, it rekindled her pain, she said.
“I know they’re looking for answers because they didn’t like the way that their brother died, and all I would say is, ‘What goes around comes around,’” she said.“I know they’re looking for answers because they didn’t like the way that their brother died, and all I would say is, ‘What goes around comes around,’” she said.
“The ironic thing,” she added, “is that we never got answers, you know.”“The ironic thing,” she added, “is that we never got answers, you know.”
The legal claim by Mr. Bulger’s estate accuses the Bureau of Prisons, Justice Department and United States Marshal Service of abuse, negligence and recklessness in Mr. Bulger’s death last October. It seeks answers about why Mr. Bulger, a former F.B.I. informant who was 89 and in a wheelchair, was transferred to the Hazelton federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., a prison known to be dangerous for informants; hours later he was found beaten to death in his cell. Mr. Bulger was serving two life sentences for his role in 11 murders, including Mr. Donahue’s. The legal claim by Mr. Bulger’s estate accuses the Bureau of Prisons, Justice Department and United States Marshals Service of abuse, negligence and recklessness in Mr. Bulger’s death last October. It seeks answers about why Mr. Bulger, a former F.B.I. informant who was 89 and in a wheelchair, was transferred to the Hazelton federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., a prison known to be dangerous for informants; hours later he was found beaten to death in his cell. Mr. Bulger was serving two life sentences for his role in 11 murders, including Mr. Donahue’s.
Reports of the claim, which was filed last week and earlier reported on by The Wall Street Journal, left family members of Mr. Bulger’s victims with a painful mix of emotions, even as legal experts said it was an important step in a case that raised serious concerns about the safety of prisoners.Reports of the claim, which was filed last week and earlier reported on by The Wall Street Journal, left family members of Mr. Bulger’s victims with a painful mix of emotions, even as legal experts said it was an important step in a case that raised serious concerns about the safety of prisoners.
“There is no question that greater transparency would be in the public interest,” said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University.“There is no question that greater transparency would be in the public interest,” said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University.
“Few people are particularly aggrieved by Bulger’s death,” he said, “but that does not mean that these questions should not be answered.”“Few people are particularly aggrieved by Bulger’s death,” he said, “but that does not mean that these questions should not be answered.”
Mr. Bulger was also accused of strangling Debra Davis in 1981. Her brother, Steven Davis, said he believed that there were corrupt motives behind Mr. Bulger’s transfer to the federal prison where he died, and that he thought Mr. Bulger’s family had a right to sue the government. (A jury made no finding in Ms. Davis’s death.)Mr. Bulger was also accused of strangling Debra Davis in 1981. Her brother, Steven Davis, said he believed that there were corrupt motives behind Mr. Bulger’s transfer to the federal prison where he died, and that he thought Mr. Bulger’s family had a right to sue the government. (A jury made no finding in Ms. Davis’s death.)
At the same time, Mr. Davis said, “There is no question in my heart, I’m glad he got it exactly the way he got it.”At the same time, Mr. Davis said, “There is no question in my heart, I’m glad he got it exactly the way he got it.”
Two lawyers representing Mr. Bulger’s estate said his relatives did not expect to benefit financially from the legal claim because the estate was encumbered by more than $100 million in judgments, some of which carry high interest rates. Any money awarded would likely go to victims’ family members, they said.Two lawyers representing Mr. Bulger’s estate said his relatives did not expect to benefit financially from the legal claim because the estate was encumbered by more than $100 million in judgments, some of which carry high interest rates. Any money awarded would likely go to victims’ family members, they said.
Ms. Donahue said it would be a good thing if any money ended up going to the victims’ families. But that did not mean she was rooting for the Bulger estate in its claim.Ms. Donahue said it would be a good thing if any money ended up going to the victims’ families. But that did not mean she was rooting for the Bulger estate in its claim.
“None of the victims, I’m sure, feel sorry for the Bulger family,” she said.“None of the victims, I’m sure, feel sorry for the Bulger family,” she said.
The lawyers for the relatives of Mr. Bulger, Henry Brennan and David Schoen, said the family’s motives were not financial.The lawyers for the relatives of Mr. Bulger, Henry Brennan and David Schoen, said the family’s motives were not financial.
“The important thing is for the family to find out what happened,” said Mr. Brennan, who was one of Mr. Bulger’s lawyers.“The important thing is for the family to find out what happened,” said Mr. Brennan, who was one of Mr. Bulger’s lawyers.
“We want to know the decision-making process that led to Mr. Bulger’s death in West Virginia, and we want to identify and hold accountable every person involved in that process,” he added.“We want to know the decision-making process that led to Mr. Bulger’s death in West Virginia, and we want to identify and hold accountable every person involved in that process,” he added.
A crime boss who terrorized South Boston in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Bulger, who denied being an informant, spent 16 years on the run before being captured in 2011.A crime boss who terrorized South Boston in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Bulger, who denied being an informant, spent 16 years on the run before being captured in 2011.
Before being transferred to Hazelton, Mr. Bulger had spent several years at Coleman II, a federal prison in Central Florida that is known as a safe haven for inmates who might need extra protection. Almost immediately after he was moved to the West Virginia prison, at least two inmates pushed his wheelchair out of view of security cameras and beat him with a padlock wrapped in a sock.Before being transferred to Hazelton, Mr. Bulger had spent several years at Coleman II, a federal prison in Central Florida that is known as a safe haven for inmates who might need extra protection. Almost immediately after he was moved to the West Virginia prison, at least two inmates pushed his wheelchair out of view of security cameras and beat him with a padlock wrapped in a sock.
Asked whether anyone was charged in the beating, the Bureau of Prisons did not directly answer the question, instead issuing a statement: “The United States Attorney’s Office and the F.B.I. are investigating the death of James Bulger as a homicide. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details will be released at this time.”Asked whether anyone was charged in the beating, the Bureau of Prisons did not directly answer the question, instead issuing a statement: “The United States Attorney’s Office and the F.B.I. are investigating the death of James Bulger as a homicide. To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details will be released at this time.”
Mr. Brennan said he did not believe that anyone had been charged. Federal law would require that the family be told if anyone was, he said, and Mr. Bulger’s relatives have not heard anything.Mr. Brennan said he did not believe that anyone had been charged. Federal law would require that the family be told if anyone was, he said, and Mr. Bulger’s relatives have not heard anything.
Questions have swirled about how Mr. Bulger came to be moved to Hazelton. In early 2018, he had clashed with a medical worker at the Florida prison and was placed in solitary confinement. After that, prison authorities tried to transfer him to another facility, prison records show.Questions have swirled about how Mr. Bulger came to be moved to Hazelton. In early 2018, he had clashed with a medical worker at the Florida prison and was placed in solitary confinement. After that, prison authorities tried to transfer him to another facility, prison records show.
At about that time, Mr. Bulger, who had several heart attacks in prison, was expecting to be moved to a medical facility, Mr. Brennan said. Instead, according to The Boston Globe, his medical classification was suddenly lowered by prison authorities, which would have indicated that his health had improved, and which may have made the transfer to Hazelton possible.At about that time, Mr. Bulger, who had several heart attacks in prison, was expecting to be moved to a medical facility, Mr. Brennan said. Instead, according to The Boston Globe, his medical classification was suddenly lowered by prison authorities, which would have indicated that his health had improved, and which may have made the transfer to Hazelton possible.
Mr. Brennan said he had spent the last 11 months trying to get information from the Bureau of Prisons, without success. He said federal authorities had stopped taking his phone calls and the family had not been given an autopsy report.Mr. Brennan said he had spent the last 11 months trying to get information from the Bureau of Prisons, without success. He said federal authorities had stopped taking his phone calls and the family had not been given an autopsy report.
“It’s clear that they don’t want to discuss Mr. Bulger’s death,” he said of the government.“It’s clear that they don’t want to discuss Mr. Bulger’s death,” he said of the government.
The claim filed by the estate is a required precursor to a lawsuit. If the agencies do not respond within six months, the estate can sue, which Mr. Brennan and Mr. Schoen said was likely.The claim filed by the estate is a required precursor to a lawsuit. If the agencies do not respond within six months, the estate can sue, which Mr. Brennan and Mr. Schoen said was likely.
“We believe that James Bulger was deliberately placed in harm’s way,” a statement issued by Mr. Bulger’s family said. “There is simply no other explanation for the transfer of someone in his condition and inmate status to be placed in the general population of one of the country’s most violent federal penitentiaries.”“We believe that James Bulger was deliberately placed in harm’s way,” a statement issued by Mr. Bulger’s family said. “There is simply no other explanation for the transfer of someone in his condition and inmate status to be placed in the general population of one of the country’s most violent federal penitentiaries.”
The lawyers said the family hoped that its claim would lead to transparency and reforms that would benefit others who suffered abuse in the prison system.The lawyers said the family hoped that its claim would lead to transparency and reforms that would benefit others who suffered abuse in the prison system.
“There’s something wrong with the way the system’s working,” Mr. Brennan said.“There’s something wrong with the way the system’s working,” Mr. Brennan said.
Anil Mujumdar, a civil rights lawyer in Birmingham, Ala., and a visiting lecturer at the University of Alabama School of Law, said the family was pursuing an important goal in seeking to force the Bureau of Prisons to reveal what happened to Mr. Bulger.Anil Mujumdar, a civil rights lawyer in Birmingham, Ala., and a visiting lecturer at the University of Alabama School of Law, said the family was pursuing an important goal in seeking to force the Bureau of Prisons to reveal what happened to Mr. Bulger.
Referring to Mr. Bulger and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and sex offender who officials have said hanged himself in a Manhattan cell last month, Mr. Mujumdar said, “If murders and suicides can occur like this in prison, then what that says is that no one is safe in prison.”Referring to Mr. Bulger and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and sex offender who officials have said hanged himself in a Manhattan cell last month, Mr. Mujumdar said, “If murders and suicides can occur like this in prison, then what that says is that no one is safe in prison.”
Kate Taylor reported from Cambridge, Mass., and Serge Kovaleski from New York. Danielle Ivory contributed reporting from New York. Alain Delaquérière contributed research.Kate Taylor reported from Cambridge, Mass., and Serge Kovaleski from New York. Danielle Ivory contributed reporting from New York. Alain Delaquérière contributed research.