by David M. Reutter
( A federal district court for the Eastern District of Michigan (EDM) has held the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) caps attorney fees in prisoner civil rights cases, but criticized that holding. Michigan prisoner Blaine Sallier was awarded damages of $13,000 by a jury for a …

by David M. Reutter

A federal district court in New York has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) barring enforcement of a condition of probation prohibiting a female probationer from having contact with her child's father, DaShawn Johnson. Probationer Julie Tremper pled guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, resulting …

The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has held that handcuffing a prisoner to a hitching post for prolonged periods violates the Eighth Amendment, but granted guards qualified immunity. Alabama prisoner Larry Hope was assigned to the chain gang at Limestone Correctional Facility (Limestone) in 1995 .On two …

by David M. Reutter


In continuing its enforcement of an "Education Plan" for the Rikers Island Academies, a New York federal district court has made modifications to the Plan because it is "deficient in many respects." PLN previously reported upon the previous ruling in this case. See PLN November 2000. …