Warden Valdez Denies Wrongdoing in Tory Lanez’s $100 Million Lawsuit
Tory Lanez filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against prison authorities on April 14. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuit alleges that prison authorities failed to care for his well-being while he was incarcerated.
California Correctional Institution Warden Thomas Valdez filed a response to Tory Lanez’s lawsuit. Valdez denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
The lawsuit accuses the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, several correctional officers, and the prison warden of failing to protect Tory Lanez. The complaint also alleges negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Additionally, the lawsuit claims violation of Tory Lanez’s privacy rights and alleges conversion.
The complaint stems from a May 2025 incident in which Tory Lanez was stabbed 16 times by Santino Casio. Tory Lanez suffered stab wounds to his back, his torso, the back of his head, and his face. He also suffered two collapsed lungs.
Tory Lanez was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. He was later transferred to California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.
Tory Lanez alleges that prison officials failed to account for the danger of housing him near Santino Casio, citing Casio’s history of violence. That history includes a 2008 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and a 2018 charge for manufacturing a weapon while incarcerated.
Tory Lanez also alleged that prison authorities were not readily available when they should have been during the incident.
Thomas Valdez acknowledged that Tory Lanez was stabbed with a makeshift weapon while housed in the same facility as Santino Casio. In his response, Valdez claims qualified immunity and states that Tory Lanez “consented to his prison housing classification and assignment and assumed any risk alleged.”
Santino Casio is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Thomas Valdez is no longer a warden at California Men’s Colony, where Tory Lanez is currently incarcerated.
