The warden of the California Correctional Institution, Thomas Valdez, is contesting a $100 million lawsuit filed by rapper Tory Lanez, denying that he bears responsibility for a stabbing that left Lanez with 14 wounds and two collapsed lungs. In court documents obtained by TMZ, Valdez rejected claims that Lanez's rights were violated and instead pointed to Lanez and prison guards as responsible for the attack.
According to the filing, Valdez acknowledged that Lanez was stabbed by another inmate, Santino Casio, using an inmate-manufactured weapon while both men were housed in the same facility. Lanez has argued that he and Casio should not have been placed in the same unit given Casio's violent history.
Lanez filed suit against the California Department of Corrections, Valdez, and 50 correctional officers at the prison where he is serving his sentence, seeking approximately $100 million in damages. He contends that prison officials were not present as they should have been and that the facility was deliberately indifferent to violence behind bars. Valdez maintains that he is not legally responsible for the incident.
Following the attack, Lanez was transported to a hospital for treatment. The case remains pending, with the warden's response marking the latest development in the high-profile legal dispute.