Suing men on death row?

[jj]

I have been looking for what happened to this case and have not found anything, on the internet and I've even check court records. I don't know what happened, or even if this case made it to court. Has anyone heard about this or know anything of what happened with this case?

Family of slain deputy tries to make killer's life miserable

If the victim's family gets their way, cop killer Robert Gene Will will have a miserable existence on death row.
By Art Rascon
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(12/3/02) — A Texas death row inmate who killed a Harris County sheriff's deputy can no longer stop at the candy machine. Robert Gene Will had his prison funds frozen at the request of Barrett Hill's family. He's the deputy who was shot and killed by Will two years ago. This may be the first case of its kind where a death row inmate has been sued for $10 million.
Robert Gene Will already has a miserable life on death row -- but it just got worse.




"We will do everything in our power to come after you until the day that the State of Texas injects you with the anti-crime vaccine and we get rid of your miserable self off this earth," said Ed Christensen, President of the Harris Count Deputies Organization.
Why the vengeance? Well, two years ago Robert Will killed Barrett Hill, a sheriff's deputy, shooting him several times. Will was convicted last January.

"It bothers me that he's breathing. I hate that. Barry's not breathing anymore," widow Cathy Hill said, before breaking down in tears.

The deputy left behind two children and a wife who doesn't believe her husband's killer should be allowed to buy even a candy bar in prison.

"We are tired of him having every single right and nothing, nothing for our families," complained Cathy Hill. "And I just want it to stop."

He also left behind a father and mother.


Deputy Barrett Hill was fatally shot two years ago.
"When he died a part of me died with him," Jean Hill told Eyewitness News.

The family is suing the cop killer for $10 million. They know they'll never see the money and don't even want it. What they do want is to make Robert Will's life as miserable as possible -- even in prison.

Burt Springer is the legal counsel for the Harris County Deputies Organization. "Any amount of pleasure other than the simple and basic necessities of life …is in excess."

Death row inmates don't have many privileges anyway. But they are able to buy a stick of gum and a can of Coke now and then from their inmate fund. But that has now been taken away from Will.

The ACLU says it is looking into the case.

About the lawsuit, the inmate doesn't have much in the way of funds anyway, but if the lawsuit prevents the killer from buying even a stick of gum, the family considers it a victory.

[tulla63]

Hi Joy!

I found this on the ABOLISH list, but I don't know if this is the type of information you are seeking:

(It was posted to the ABOLISH list on Tue Dec 05 2000)

===============

A 22-year-old Houston man with a lengthy criminal record was jailed
without bond Tuesday on a capital murder charge for fatally shooting
Harris County rookie sheriff's deputy Barrett Hill.


Robert Gene Will could face the death penalty if convicted.


Investigators say Will stole a car at gunpoint after shooting Hill Monday
morning. The officer was chasing him on foot while investigating a report
of a possible auto theft.


Another man, Allen Michael Rosario, was charged with auto theft and was
held on $50,000 bond. In addition, a girlfriend of one of the men was
held on an unrelated drug possession charge, officials said.


Maj. Juan Jorge, who heads the department's detective division, said he
doesn't expect any more arrests.


Court records show Will served a year in jail for stealing a car in 1997
and was given probation for robbery with a weapon for the same crime. He
also served 10 days in jail for evading arrests in 1995, records showed.


Will was arrested in Brenham, about 75 miles northwest of Houston,
driving a car stolen from a woman accosted at gunpoint near the shooting
scene, Jorge said.


Authorities said he was carrying a .40-caliber pistol, the same caliber
as spent shells found at the scene.


Will was treated at Houston's Ben Taub Hospital for a wounded hand before
being taken to jail.


"He probably accidentally shot himself in the scuffle," Jorge said.


Hill, 38, was shot at least 3 times, once in the face, once in the chest
and once in the hand, Jorge said.


The officer is survived by his wife, Cathy, and 2 daughters, Whitney, 7,
and Lacy, 18, said Rick Hartley, spokesman for The 100 Club, an
organization which collects donations for dependents of peace officers
killed in the line of duty.


Hartley said the organization Tuesday would give the slain officer's
family $10,000 to assist with immediate needs.


Hill was described by colleagues as an outstanding employee, a dedicated
family man and an officer known for his sense of humor.


He had worked for the department for more than 3 years, primarily at the
jail, and was in his last week of training to become a patrol officer.


Hill became the 2nd Harris County deputy in 6 weeks to be killed on duty.
Another officer was shot and critically wounded in August.


Sheriff Tommy Thomas said Hill and his training officer were
investigating a report of several men breaking into a car at an apartment
complex in the northwest part of the county. The men arrived there in a
car that recently had been reported stolen.


"We think they were trying to steal another car," Jorge said.


Hill and his training officer chased the suspects, who fled on foot
through a wooded area. They were separated during the chase and Hill told
his partner over the radio that he had apprehended one of them, Thomas
said. Then his partner heard gunshots, Thomas said.


Other deputies joined in a search for Hill, who was found dead about 30
minutes later between 50 and 70 yards from his partner, Jorge said. Hill
had taken his handcuffs out but his gun was still holstered, officials
said.


Authorities said Will ran across a drainage ditch to another apartment
complex. A woman was getting into her car to drive to work when he
ordered her at gunpoint to surrender her car and sped away, officials
said. The woman was uninjured and identified Will from a police lineup,
officials said.


A Washington County Sheriff's deputy spotted the car and arrested Will
after a short chase.


(source for both: Associated Press)

[CCADP]

i remember that joy - i don't think anything ever came of it. that was some nasty petty stuff !

i'll look into it...

[jj]

Yeah, thats the same guy, but I'm trying to find out what happened with the law suit that the victims family brought against him. They were trying to freeze his commisary account so he couldn't buy anything and any money put on his books would go to the family. I've never heard what the outcome of this case was.

[tulla63]

Joy said:

Yeah, thats the same guy, but I'm trying to find out what happened with the law suit that the victims family brought against him. They were trying to freeze his commisary account so he couldn't buy anything and any money put on his books would go to the family. I've never heard what the outcome of this case was.

I think I found it. Take a look at:

groups.yahoo.com/group/ncabolition/message/6349

Dec. 3



TEXAS:

Killer's prison funds frozen ---Family of slain deputy sues inmate for
account money


The widow of a slain Harris County sheriff's deputy stopped her husband's
killer Monday from having access to money in his prisoner account.

Cathy Hill, a daughter and the deputy's parents, Barbara Jean and Edward
Hill, sued death row inmate Robert Gene Will II for $10 million in
damages for pain and suffering and loss of companionship and support.

"We don't want him to be able to buy a stamp to mail a letter to his
mama. It's not vindictiveness -- it's justice," said Burt Springer,
general counsel for the Harris County Deputies' Organization, which filed
the lawsuit. Springer believes the suit is the 1st of its kind.

Will, 24, shot Deputy Barrett Hill, 38, on Dec. 4, 2000, as Hill and
another deputy were chasing 2 car-theft suspects through a wooded area
off Dunson Glen in north Harris County.

Will was arrested a few hours later in Brenham with the murder weapon,
and was convicted last January.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for Will's food, clothing, housing,
medical care and other necessities, Springer said.

But family and others can place money in an inmate's personal account,
which the prisoner can use to buy personal items from a prison store.

If Will is allowed to continue using the funds, Hill's family could not
recover those damages, the suit said.

"Why should those who harm deputies and others be allowed to have any
enjoyment in life besides the necessities before they die?" Springer said.

Ancillary Judge Kenneth Wise granted Springer's request to temporarily
prohibit Will "from use or enjoyment of any and all funds contained in
his inmate account" or in the future.

Wise set a hearing for Dec. 13 before state District Judge Tony Lindsay.

(source: Houston Chronicle)

***************

Love,
Turid

[mikebook]

I think there are similar cases in California, when inmates attack the corrections officers. The officers can sue for damages. It is not that much money, but it is the principle of the thing. That if you hurt someone, you have consequences to face.

[CCADP]

Thats a different kind of case Mike -

In this one, the killer has been sentenced for the crime (to death; unfortunately).

NOW they are looking for an ADDITIONAL punishment - death is not enough ? - so the guy can never buy a coffee at commissary.

Its ridiculous. I think its probably been thrown out.

[mikebook]

It is done often in wrongful death cases. Welcome to America, the land of the lawyer...
Is the inmate wanting a latte at Starbucks or something? I could see them getting a percentage of the money on his accounts but not all of it. He still would need toothpaste, deoderent, etc. so even I could not be that mean. I mean, he still has basic needs that we all have.

[CCADP]

i said coffee just off the top of my head. But yes; they do buy the items you mentioned; and those items would be affected by this lawsuit were it allowed...

Since you couldn't be that mean then you agree with me that this lawsuit should be tossed....

ps latte - smile...(no; but some of the guys buy instant coffee and make it with warm tap water) - or in some cases a coil - I don't think thats a huge extravagance

[mikebook]

I do not know if it could be thrown out. The family does seem to have standing for a suit. However, it would take several lifetimes to pay that $10 million judgement if they got it.

[mikebook]

Sorry, forgot to mention that the idea for coffee and other sundries is no big deal. A percentage of what he had would be fair, but I do not think they could do that. The guys on death row still need hygene items--the state provides for the rest of their needs. The county in which I live has an %8.25 sales tax, and we still do not have enough money. The state claims it pays about 50-60 dollars per day to house and feed them. Look at Sheriff Joe Arpiao's page. You want to see real troubles, look there. He trys to recover as much as he can from his inmates. I think some of what he does is grandstanding but some of his ideas do work. Of course, some of them are impractable--Tents in Maine would be bad. But the idea of labor for your keep is part of the system. So is education because a GED is not enough. But most people in prison, not just death row, have a reading and math grade level at 6.5--to about 7.8 grade. I do not know what happens to cause this. I am concerned because I am in education.