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Former Detroit Officers Award $6.5 Million in Whistleblower Lawsuit

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Misconduct/Corruption, Government Misconduct

Former Detroit Officers Award $6.5 Million in Whistleblower Lawsuit by A Michigan jury found the former mayor and City of Detroit liable of violating the state’s Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) and awarded a pair of ex-police officers $6.5 million. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the City of Detroit were found liable …

$8 Million Settlement by Michigan Jail over Baby's Injuries

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Medical, Brain Injury, OB/GYN, Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Mothers in Prison

$8 Million Settlement by Michigan Jail over Baby's Injuries by An $8 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit claiming guards and officials at Michigan’s Wayne County Jail (WCJ) failed to treat a female prisoner in active labor, resulting in serious injury to the infant. When Chantrienes Barker was booked …

Sixth Circuit of US Court of Appeals Affirms Grant of Habeas Corpus

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Malpractice (Attorneys), Sentencing, Habeas Corpus

Sixth Circuit of US Court of Appeals Affirms Grant of Habeas Corpus by The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed in May 2012 the order of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan conditionally granting the petition for habeas corpus relief in the …

Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals Redefines Michigan Prisoner’s Mandamus

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Civil Procedure, Mandamus

Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals Redefines Michigan Prisoner’s Mandamus by The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit subjected a Michigan prisoner’s petition for a writ of mandamus to the five prong test case, John B. v. Goetz, 531 F.3d 457 (6th Cir. 2008), and other case …

Ninth Circuit: Officer May Be Liable for Unlawful Seizure and Conspiracy

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Police Misconduct, Municipal Liability, Police, False Arrest

Ninth Circuit: Officer May Be Liable for Unlawful Seizure and Conspiracy by On September 29, 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals held that a Michigan police officer who conspired to falsely arrest a man was not entitled to summary judgment. Nidal Bazzi, a felon on federal supervised release, was …

Sixth Circuit Court Reverses a First Amendment Retaliation Issue

Article • April 15, 2013

Filed under: Guards/Staff, Employee Litigation

Sixth Circuit Court Reverses a First Amendment Retaliation Issue by The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed and remanded in May 2012 a Michigan district court’s decision for the defendant in a prison guard’s suit against prison officials for retaliatory job reassignment at the prison. Ruth …

Sleighter v. Kent Co., MI, Mtn. for Class Cert., Jail Methadone Ban, 2013

Brief • March 13, 2013

Filed under: Medication, Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal

Sleighter v. Kent Co., MI, Mtn. for Class Cert., Jail Methadone Ban, 2013 Case 1:12-cv-01008-GJQ-ESC Doc #18 Filed 03/13/13 Page 1 of 10 Page ID#81 FILED -GR March 13, 2013 11 :29 AM TRACEY CORDES. CLERK U.S. DISTRICT CO~URT ~STERN DISTRICT a III BY -1lJ'_I_ SCANIIED BY UNITED STATES OF …

King v. Williams, Detroit, Amended Complaint, Prison Visit Contact, 2013

Brief • March 7, 2013

Filed under: Guard Misconduct, Visiting

King v. Williams, Detroit, Amended Complaint, Prison Visit Contact, 2013 2:12-cv-15116-MFL-RSW Doc # 12 Filed 03/07/13 Pg 1 of 6 UNITED'STATES 'DIS1RICT COURT EASTERN DJSTR.IC!"OF MICHIGAN ~ Pg ID 51 MAR 0 7 2013 CLERK'S OFFICE DETROIT CHERYL KING, et al, No. 1:12-cv-15116 Plaintiffs, v Hon. Thomas L Ludington TIFFANEY …

Murphy v. Lockhart, MI, Settlement, escape retaliation religious rights mail telephone family segregation, 2013

Brief • March 5, 2013

Filed under: Retaliation, Escapes, RLUIPA, Mail Regulations, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement

Murphy v. Lockhart, MI, Settlement, escape retaliation religious rights mail telephone family segregation, 2013 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION TIMOTHY MURPHY, #183248, Plaintiff, No. 2:10-cv-11676 V. HON. DAVID M. LAWSON SEAN LOCKHART, THOMAS BIRKETT, RAYBOWERSON, MICHAEL KRAJNIK, SARAH BEARSS, KENNETH WERNER, MAG. LAURIE J. MICHELSON …

Seales v. City of Detroit, MI, Amended Complaint, Wrongful Imprisonment, 2013

Brief • February 26, 2013

Filed under: Jail Specific, Wrongful Imprisonment, Failure to Train/Supervise, False Arrest, Fourth Amendment, rights, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Fifth Amendment, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights

Seales v. City of Detroit, MI, Amended Complaint, Wrongful Imprisonment, 2013 Case 4:12-cv-11679-GAD-DRG ECF No. 28 filed 04/09/13 PageID.121 Page 1 of 22 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION MARVIN SEALES, Plaintiff, Case No. 4:12-cv-11679 Hon. Gershwin A. Drain v CITY OF DETROIT, a Municipal Corporation; …

Supreme Court Adopts Strickland Prejudice Standard for Rejected Plea Bargains

Article • February 15, 2013 • from PLN February, 2013

Filed under: Guilty Pleas, Attorneys, Appointment of Counsel, Attorney Misconduct, Public Defenders, Malpractice (Attorneys), Habeas Corpus

Supreme Court Adopts Strickland Prejudice Standard for Rejected Plea Bargains by Derek Gilna The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, has extended Strickland guarantees of effective legal representation to defendants entering into plea bargains. According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who delivered the majority opinion of the Court, “The reality …

Pay-to-Stay Jail Programs Growing

Article • February 15, 2013 • from PLN February, 2013

Filed under: Money/Property, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Booking Fees

Pay-to-Stay Jail Programs Growing by Due in part to stressed government budgets, “pay-to-stay” fees imposed on prisoners in county jails are becoming more prevalent. Two counties, one in Ohio and the other in California, are now collecting incarceration costs from detainees. After Keller Blackburn became prosecutor for Athens County, Ohio, …

Iswed v Caruso, MI, Opinion & Order granting plf app for attoney fees, prisoner overseas phone calls, 2013

Brief • February 14, 2013

Filed under: International, Telephones, Family

Iswed v Caruso, MI, Opinion & Order granting plf app for attoney fees, prisoner overseas phone calls, 2013 Case 1:08-cv-01118-PLM-ESC Doc #185 Filed 02/14/13 Page 1 of 12 Page ID#1430 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION BAHAA E. ISWED, #272102, Plaintiff, ) ) ) -v) ) …

Sleighter v. Kent Co., MI, Answer, Jail Methadone Ban, 2013

Brief • January 18, 2013

Filed under: Medication, Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal

Sleighter v. Kent Co., MI, Answer, Jail Methadone Ban, 2013 Case 1:12-cv-01008-GJQ-ESC Doc #13 Filed 01/18/13 Page 1 of 9 Page ID#66 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN BRADLEY KEITH SLEIGHTER Plaintiff, v Case No. 1:12-cv-001008 Hon. Gordon J. Quist U.S. District …

Law Enforcement Forfeiture Corruption Scandal in Michigan Includes Police Chief

Article • January 15, 2013 • from PLN January, 2013

Filed under: Misconduct/Corruption, Police Misconduct, Criminal Prosecution

Law Enforcement Forfeiture Corruption Scandal in Michigan Includes Police Chief by The former chief of police in Romulus, Michigan, his wife and five detectives have been charged with dozens of criminal offenses related to their alleged misuse of funds seized under forfeiture laws. Romulus is located just outside Detroit, in …

Michigan DOC Taser Experiment Touted; Prison Perimeter Patrols to End

Article • December 15, 2012 • from PLN December, 2012

Filed under: Excessive Force, Stun Guns/Tasers, Guard Unions

Michigan DOC Taser Experiment Touted; Prison Perimeter Patrols to End by Michigan prison officials are proclaiming their experiment to arm guards with Tasers a success. An announced end to round-the-clock patrols of prison perimeters, however, was denounced as a threat to security by the union that represents Michigan Department of …

Dunmire v. Isabella County, MI, Complaint, Denial of Exercise Class Action, 2012

Brief • October 30, 2012

Filed under: Exercise

Dunmire v. Isabella County, MI, Complaint, Denial of Exercise Class Action, 2012 2:12-cv-14807-DML-MKM Doc # 1 Filed 10/30/12 Pg 1 of 19 Pg ID 1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN NORTHERN DIVISION MICHAEL DUNMIRE, MARCUS JACKSON, and AMANDA HESTER, on behalf of themselves …

Onerous Change in Michigan Commutation Procedures Fails to State Ex Post Facto Claim

Article • September 15, 2012 • from PLN September, 2012

Filed under: Sentencing, Ex Post Facto, Pardons/Clemency

Onerous Change in Michigan Commutation Procedures Fails to State Ex Post Facto Claim by The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a change in procedures for commutation of sentence does not constitute an ex post facto violation. The appellate court ruled in a case involving Michigan prisoner Keith …

Veal v. County of Kent, MI, Complaint, Guard Assault, 2012

Brief • September 14, 2012

Filed under: Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings

Veal v. County of Kent, MI, Complaint, Guard Assault, 2012 Case 1:12-cv-00992-RHB Doc #1 Filed 09/14/12 Page 1 of 15 Page ID#1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN - SOUTHERN DIVISION FREDERICK VEAL, Case No. Plaintiff, Honorable v. COUNTY OF KENT; RAY PADILLA, Individually; GUS SUDUE, Individually; JULIE …

Allen v. Heyns, MI, Complaint, Class Action, Parolable Life Sentences, 2012

Brief • August 15, 2012

Filed under: Parole, Three Strikes, State Statutes

Allen v. Heyns, MI, Complaint, Class Action, Parolable Life Sentences, 2012 STATE OF MICHIGAN IN THE 30TH (INGHAM COUNTY) CIRCUIT COURT ______________________________________________ EDWARD ALLEN, OLIVER HARDY, and MICHAEL WATKINS, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, File No. 12-907-CZ v. Hon. Joyce Draganchuk DANIEL HEYNS, Director of …