Jury awards $3 million to former prison inmate over sexual harassment

WILKES-BARRE — A federal jury has awarded $3 million to a former state prison inmates that the jury found was sexually victimized by a corrections officer.

Jurors Thursday found Josie McCormick suffered emotional and mental harm through intentional and malicious acts of corrections officer Matthew R. Allabach when she was an inmate in the State Correction Institution at Muncy.

“The jury certainly sent a message with its verdict,” Amy R. Boring, who represented McCormick, said Friday. Boring noted that half of the $3 million award is punitive damages.

Boring expressed hope the large award will serve as a deterrent and encourage other women to come forward.

Read more: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/jury-awards-3-million-to-former-prison-inmate-over-sexual-harassment.html