Jodi Arias says she got hepatitis C in jail

PHOENIX, April 19 (UPI) -- Convicted killer Jodi Arias filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio after she said she got Hepatitis C while in his custody.

Arias filed the lawsuit without a lawyer, saying she was given a Tuberculosis vaccine while in custody, but that the needle used on her was dirty.

Additionally, she says her left silicone breast implant leaked while in jail, causing a fungal growth. She said she was denied medical care while incarcerated.

She says a video camera was put in her cell and she was forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning or she wouldn't be fed.

Arias is also suing Nancy Grace, saying Arpaio allegedly colluded with the television host. The lawsuit says Arpaio intercepted sexual letters between Arias and the cousin of her ex-boyfriend -- whom she was convicted of killing -- and leaked them to Grace.

She said she wants a restraining order against Grace and Arpaio to stop them from preventing her from getting a fair death penalty trial.

Arpaio said the lawsuit's claims have no basis.

"I'm not concerned with it," Arpaio said of the lawsuit. "She's just trying to get media attention by going after the media and this sheriff. She's not stupid. She knows she can generate some interest and the media will talk about it."

[KTAR] [TMZ]