by David M. Reutter
A Nevada federal district court found on February 7, 2020 that prison officials were liable for failing to provide evidence to a prisoner during disciplinary proceedings. The Court’s grant of summary judgment to Nevada prisoner John Melnik ordered a trial to determine damages.
The order accepted …
by David M. Reutter
A California federal district court granted a temporary restraining order that requires the defendants to take steps to end the retaliation against two class members housed at the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) near San Diego.
The court’s July 2, 2020, order found that the plaintiffs …
by David M. Reutter
After what officials are calling coordinated fights, six Oklahoma prisons were placed on lockdown status for over a week. One prisoner died and 36 prisoners and several staff were injured in the melees.
The lockdowns began on September 15, 2019, after fights between gangs at prisons …
by David M. Reutter
A guilty plea to conspiracy and wire fraud charges was entered in a Michigan federal district court on December 4, 2019, by Tony Tuan Pham, also known as Anh Nguyen, in his role of coaching prospective and current federal prisoners on how to qualify for the …
by David M. Reutter
The Montana Department of Corrections (MDOC) agreed to pay $5,400 to resolve a former prisoner’s claim that alleged religious discrimination and failed equal opportunities for women.
The November 7, 2019 Conciliation Agreement resolved complaints brought by prisoner May Simmons, who was held at the Montana Women’s …
by David M. Reutter
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held on March 6, 2020 that prison officials did not retaliate against a prisoner by transferring him to another prison where the transfer was a response to the prisoner’s grievances concerning confinement conditions.
Indiana prisoner Robert Holleman was described by …
by David M. Reutter
An Ohio prisoner received a $110,518.94 settlement in a civil rights action that alleged guards used excessive force on him. The settlement, finalized on February 13, 2020, further provided for reversal of misconduct reports related to the incident.
While at Southern Correctional Facility on January 21, …
by David M. Reutter
On February 28, 2020, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the parties’ conflicting self-serving statements precluded the grant of summary judgement for defendants in a lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution.
Before the court was the appeal of Michigan prisoner Chris Davis, who is housed at …
by David M. Reutter
Ohio’s Cuyahoga County Jail (CCJ) agreed to a $140,000 settlement on February 14, 2020 in a civil rights action alleging a prisoner was subjected to excessive force and retaliation by guards.
Corrionne Lawrence was booked into CCJ on September 16, 2018, for a probation violation.
When …
by David M. Reutter
On January 30, 2020, a Michigan federal district court found the state Department of Corrections (MDOC) “places a substantial burden” on Jewish prisoners’ “religious beliefs by mandating a vegan diet for inmates approved for kosher.” Its order found that injunctive relief was required to cure the …
