Inmate awarded $295K settlement from Oregon prison regarding abuse allegations

Settlement in Oregon Case Involving Transgender Inmate

A transgender inmate, who transitioned from male to female while imprisoned, has reached a significant settlement with the Oregon Department of Corrections. Zella Laura Zombie, previously known as Daniel Lee Smith, alleged she faced staff abuse while in a men’s prison.

The lawsuit, which dates back to 2021, has culminated in a $295,000 settlement, as reported by Oregonian. Zombie has been at Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility since April 2025. She was convicted in 2014 for the manslaughter of her girlfriend, Samantha Lee Brown, and also received additional sentences for attacking another inmate. As it stands, she will be incarcerated until 2049.

In 2020, Zombie publicly came out as transgender and started hormone therapy, and by 2022, she began the process for gender reassignment surgery while in prison.

Regarding her settlement, Zombie is set to receive $95,000 directly, while her attorney will obtain $200,000 in fees.

Zombie claimed that she was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by cellmates in two different facilities. Allegations include discrimination based on gender, improper housing of women in men’s prisons, and failures to follow state and federal laws regarding her safety. The complaint highlighted serious issues, such as housing vulnerable women with known sex offenders and neglecting to provide mandated counseling.

A judge had previously ruled that Zombie is a socially vulnerable person, thereby mandating solitary confinement for her safety.

Some officials have acknowledged the challenges, and a spokesperson from the Oregon Department of Corrections stated that they are dedicated to preventing sexual assault in prisons, emphasizing that they take all allegations seriously and are committed to thorough investigations.