A former jail inmate is suing Luzerne County, alleging he was assaulted by an inmate who should never have been housed with a cellmate.

The federal lawsuit alleges the jail warden "has lost control over the Luzerne County Correctional Facility," resulting in Joseph B. Cracolici III being assaulted in his cell, leaving him with neck and back injuries, bruises and a split eye.

The suit, filed by attorney Joseph C. Borland, seeks unspecified damages on counts of indifference in providing medical care and failing to protect Cracolici from a known danger.

Court records show Cracolici, 40, of Hanover Township, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in January 2013 and was sentenced to nine to 18 months in jail for selling an "eight ball" of crack to an undercover officer for $200.

On June 15, 2013, Cracolici was attacked by an unnamed cellmate who was a known danger to others at the jail, the complaint alleges.

"The inmate who attacked (Cracolici) was a previous inmate at Luzerne County Correctional Facility and was forbidden from sharing a cell with other inmates, and was released and re-incarcerated with(in) one day due to an attempted machete attack during the short time he was released," Borland wrote.

The lawsuit alleges that the jail's policy of not identifying the possible risk of incoming inmates resulted in the attack.

After the attack, the facility physician, Dr. Gunnar Kosek, told Cracolici that he needed an MRI to be diagnosed but would not get one because his sentence was not long enough, according to the complaint.

As a result, Cracolici's back injury has been a continuing problem that has continued to prevent him from working, the complaint alleges. Cracolici also suffers from "psychological injury, emotional distress, and upset, embarrassment and humiliation," Borland wrote.

The lawsuit names the county, Kosek, Deputy Warden James J. Larson and an unknown guard as defendants.

County solicitor David Pedri declined to comment, saying he does not discuss pending litigation.

570-821-2058, @cvjimhalpin

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