Court Declines to Dismiss Case Against Former New Mexico Corrections Secretary
Albuquerque, NM – A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit against former New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary Al Park and other officials can proceed. The case, filed by inmate Terry Handlon, alleges that the defendants failed to provide adequate medical care during Handlon’s incarceration, violating his Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment.
The lawsuit, Handlon v. Jimenez-Lopez et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. In a recent order, dated August 14, 2025, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint, allowing the case to move forward to discovery and potentially trial.
Terry Handlon, who was incarcerated at the Penitentiary of New Mexico, claims that he suffered from severe medical conditions that were not properly diagnosed or treated by prison medical staff. The complaint further alleges that officials, including former Secretary Park, were aware of the systemic issues in medical care within the Department of Corrections but failed to take adequate steps to address them.
The court’s decision to allow the case to proceed is a significant step for Handlon, who seeks damages for the alleged mistreatment. The ruling indicates that the plaintiff has presented a plausible claim that the defendants’ actions or inactions constituted deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs.
While the specific details of Handlon’s medical conditions are not fully elaborated in the public filing at this stage, the court’s refusal to dismiss the case suggests that the allegations of systemic neglect are substantial enough to warrant further judicial scrutiny.
This ruling is expected to have implications for the ongoing oversight of healthcare within the New Mexico Corrections Department. It underscores the legal responsibility of correctional officials to ensure that inmates receive necessary medical attention, and that failure to do so can have legal consequences.
The parties involved will now proceed with the discovery phase, during which they will exchange evidence and information relevant to the case. The outcome of the litigation will be closely watched as it progresses through the federal court system.
24-1107 – Handlon v. Jimenez-Lopez et al.
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