Two inmates of the Blair County Prison have recently filed petitions indicating their willingness to join a class action lawsuit against county officials that was filed in the U. S. District Court in Johnstown last October.

The initial lawsuit was filed on Oct. 1, 2025, by inmate Donald Earl Meyer of Clearfield County who sued prison personnel and members of the Blair County Prison Board, which includes two judges and representatives of the District Attorney’s office.

The lawsuit charged that living conditions in the county prison violate “a number of civil and constitutional rights.”

The civil rights complaint alleged that prison authorities interfered with the ability of inmates to prepare petitions that challenge their charges or their convictions.

It complained that inmates were not properly fed and that the facility was infested with mice and rats.

The lawsuit was also critical of the medical care received by inmates.

The action stressed the facility was overcrowded and, in areas like the showers, unsanitary.

Meyer requested his lawsuit become a class action on behalf of the inmates.

Eight other inmates have since filed complaints joining the action.

In the past two weeks, additional inmates have filed petitions to join the lawsuit, including Steve Aman, 53, of Altoona and Vincent Cowher, 29, of Tyrone.

Aman stated, in a petition filed on March 12 in the Johnstown court, he “would like to be added to whatever lawsuit is ongoing.”

Aman explained that in 2023, he spent time in the county prison and had surgery.

He noted that he ended up with an infection and landed back in the hospital.

Aman stated he has been re-incarcerated for four months and concluded in his recent petition that “this jail is so dirty and the mice (are) everywhere.”

Cowher, in prison on drug charges, related in a civil rights petition filed Monday that he wanted to join the class action.

He stated he has been in prison since Jan. 23 of this year.

He initially was being housed in the prison gym along with 30-plus other inmates.

The gym had one toilet and one shower to serve the inmates, and the lights were kept on day and night, which he said affected his mental health.

He filed a grievance and, at that point, was moved to the prison’s E-Block.

Cowher stated he is being kept with four other men in a two-person cell, meaning he sleeps on the floor.

He charged the toilet in the cell leaks and it is a constant struggle to push the leaking sewage from the cell.

The cell, he reported, also has a “family of mice” that run about all night.

“I now have nightmares, like most of our cellmates,” he stated in his petition.

He said he wants to join the class action because “our sleep times are by taking turns, cleaning water and trying to keep the mice out.”

The class action has been assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher B. Brown in Pittsburgh.

Brown two weeks ago put the class action on hold.

He stated the action could not continue until “filing and administrative fees” of more than $400 are paid, or until papers are filed requesting “in form pauperis” standing.

The IFP request includes an affidavit including a list of assets the applicant possesses and outlines his inability to pay.

Brown explains, in a memorandum he filed, after the fee question has been resolved, he must screen the petitions, that frivolous or malicious charges may be dismissed.

He also has issued an order explaining the procedures that must be followed by individuals representing themselves.

“All civil rights cases filed by incarcerated individuals are assigned only to a magistrate judge by the Clerk of Court,” he stated.

His order explained that magistrate judges now have the “full authority to manage and ultimately dispose of civil actions.”