1.   He also said the state was concerned about the legal burden of thousands of inmate lawsuits every year, many of which he called frivolous or of marginal merit.

2.   New York State Attorney General Dennis Vacco suggests that defunding the group could reduce frivolous inmate lawsuits.

3.   The department also is bracing for inmate lawsuits arising from the beatings, King said.

4.   The cost of defending against inmate lawsuits?

5.   Though the incident happened last September, Missouri officials did not find out until recently, when the tape became evidence in an inmate lawsuit.

6.   But the ruling halts a string of Supreme Court decisions that shielded prison officials from inmate lawsuits.

7.   Courts long have responded to inmate lawsuits over prison conditions by ordering state officials to relieve those that violate some constitutional right.

8.   The inmate lawsuit originally focused on overcrowding.