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Experts Designated and Defendants Ordered to Give Plaintiffs' Attorneys Access to Jails and Records in Maricopa County Jail Medical Suit

On January 28, 2009, a Phoenix federal judge appointed experts to evaluate medical and mental health care in the Maricopa County, Arizona jails, and assist in developing a remedial plan. The court designated Dr. Lambert King as the medical expert and Dr. Kathryn Burns as mental health expert. Because the court had already found medical and mental health care in the jails to be unconstitutional, the experts were given the task of evaluating the delivery of medical and mental health care, identifying deficiencies, developing a corrective plan and submitting progress reports every 120 days.

Correctional Health Services (CHS) was ordered to provide the experts administrative support and private access to medical and mental health staff, facilities and records. CHS was required to pay the costs and salaries of the experts.

Defendants had refused to allow plaintiffs' attorneys to interview jail prisoners or have access to their health records. The court ordered the defendants to allow them private access to the prisoners and provide the attorneys copies of the records. See: Graves v. Arapiao, U.S.D.C. D.Ariz., No. CV-77-0479-PHX-NVW.

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Related legal case

Graves v. Arapiao

A copy of the courts order is available in PLN's brief bank.