MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Two Memphis women are alleging that authorities at the Shelby County women’s jail failed to protect them from being attacked by a male inmate who was being housed there due to overcrowding issues last fall.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

The defendants include the Shelby County Government, Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Chief Jailer Kirk Fields, four correctional officers, a lieutenant, and 10 John Does who are believed to also be county employees. The lawsuit says those John Does’ names and addresses were unknown at the time of filing “despite the exercise of reasonable diligence.”

The county’s standard policy is to house male inmates downtown at 201 Poplar Avenue, also known as the Main Jail, and ho

See Full Page