A Massachusetts prison inmate filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against disgraced former state lab chemist Annie Dookhan, a Boston police official, the state and the offices of the Suffolk and Norfolk district attorneys.
Plaintiff Jeffrey Solomon, also known as Jeffrey Banks, is currently serving a prison sentence in Middlesex County on unrelated charges. Last year, prosecutors decided not to pursue drug charges, including dealing cocaine, against Solomon after testing showed a substance certified as cocaine by Dookhan was not a narcotic.
Dookhan, 35, of Franklin, Mass., remained free on her prior bail of $10,000 after an arraignment Monday in Salem Superior Court. Authorities have accused her of wrongdoing that includes fabricating drug test results and tampering with evidence while testing samples.
In his suit, Solomon said he’s a victim of perjury, threats and false evidence, and claims unspecified monetary damages.
The suit accuses the Boston police detective who arrested Solomon of destroying evidence and falsely testifying he found cocaine on Solomon.
The lawsuit alleges state health officials didn’t respond properly after finding problems with Dookhan’s work and claims Dookhan favored prosecutors because district attorneys and health officials failed to prohibit contact between chemists and prosecutors.
A spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney said the office hadn’t seen the suit and couldn’t comment.
A spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney referred questions to the attorney general’s office, which defends his offices against suits. An email requesting comment was left with spokesman for the attorney general, as well as a health department spokeswoman. A Boston police spokeswoman said the department doesn’t comment on pending litigation.