Inmates seek to join class action lawsuit over prison conditions
Blair County Prison inmates are seeking to join a class action lawsuit alleging unconstitutional and unsanitary living conditions.Summary
Two inmates at Blair County Prison, Steve Aman and Vincent Cowher, have filed petitions to join an existing class action lawsuit against county officials. The initial lawsuit, filed in October 2025 by inmate Donald Earl Meyer, alleges violations of civil and constitutional rights due to poor living conditions, including inadequate food, pest infestations, and insufficient medical care. Inmates Aman and Cowher detailed specific issues in their petitions, such as infections after surgery, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and constant exposure to mice and rats. Cowher described being forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded cell with a leaking toilet. The class action is currently on hold pending the payment of filing fees or a request for 'in forma pauperis' standing, and Magistrate Judge Christopher B. Brown will screen the petitions for merit and manage the case.
(Source：Altoona Mirror)