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Failure to Protect States Claim by The court of appeals for the fifth circuit held that a district court erred in dismissing as frivolous a suit by a prisoner claiming his eighth amendment rights were violated when they failed to protect him from attack by other prisoners. Billy Horton, a …
Prison Litigation Reform Act Passed by Paul Wright On April 27, 1996, president Clinton signed the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) into law attached as a rider to the budget for the Justice Department. The PLRA is the culmination of a lengthy campaign waged by prisoncrats and the National Association …
Attorney Fees Awarded in Death Row Brutality Case by A federal district court in South Carolina awarded a prisoner's attorney $29,516.50 in attorney fees and $1,856.17 in costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Cecil Lucas is a death row prisoner in South Carolina. After becoming drunk and combative with …
New York Work Release Creates Liberty Interest by A federal district court in New York held that prisoners retain a due process liberty interest in remaining in work release. Quentin Hollingsworth, a New York state prisoner, was participating in a work release and home furlough program while nearing the end …
Massachusetts Phone Injunction Affirmed by The court of appeals for the first circuit affirmed a district court's contempt finding against prison officials concerning the monitoring and taping of prisoners' phone calls. In 1979 William Langton and David LeBlanc filed suit against Massachusetts prison officials over the interception and monitoring of …
Article • July 15, 1996 • from PLN July, 1996
New Jersey Governor Vetoes Frivolous Bill by In the January '96 issue of PLN we featured "TX Anti-Litigation Law," about a law passed in Texas purportedly to stem "frivolous" litigation by prisoners. Also in that article was information about how this type of law was crafted by the National Association …
Arizona Held in Contempt over Masters' Fees by In the October, 1995, issue of PLN we reported the ongoing war between the Arizona DOC (ADOC) and the federal judiciary as prison officials sought to evade compliance with federal court orders. Because the Arizona DOC has not been willing to comply …
Article • June 15, 1996 • from PLN June, 1996
IFP Status Not Available for Trivial Suits by The court of appeals for the third circuit has expanded the ability of district courts to dismiss suits filed in forma pauperis by indigents. This case epitomizes the maxim that bad cases make bad case law. Melvin Deutsch is a federal prisoner …
Michigan Visiting TRO Denied by A federal district court in Michigan denied state prisoners a Preliminary Injunction (PI) in their challenge to new visiting rules. The Michigan DOC recently enacted more restrictive rules on visitation that prohibit visits by all minors other than prisoners' own children; it prohibits visits with …
No Stay in DC Women Prisoners' Suit by In the December, 1995, issue of PLN we reported Women Prisoners of D.C. DOC v. District of Columbia, 877 F. Supp. 634 (DC DC 1995), a class action suit by women prisoners challenging their conditions of confinement and an atmosphere of sexual …
Ninth Circuit Revisits Attorney Fees by The court of appeals for the ninth circuit has again held that attorney fee awards under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 should be awarded by district courts based on the relief achieved by the prevailing party. Institutional reform litigation by its nature is a long, …
California EFV Ban Enjoined by Past issues of PLN have reported on legislative efforts to eliminate or restrict prisoners access to Extended Family Visits in California. A series of state court rulings have been issued [See PLN, Feb., Apr., Sep, 1995, for more details] on this topic. Unable to completely …
Article • June 15, 1996 • from PLN June, 1996
Pro Se Tips and Tactics by John Midgley This column discusses the defense of so-called "qualified immunity" that is available to public officers and employees sued under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983. I will first discuss what an "immunity" is, then what "qualified" immunity is as distinguished from "absolute" immunity, and …
Washington Prisoners Protest Money Seizure Law by In the May, 1995, issue of PLN we ran the article Harsher Prison Measures Opposed: "Family Values'' Stop Here which reported the solidarity demonstration held by some 20 people in front of the King County (Seattle), WA jail on March 20, 1995. That …
$176,000 Awarded in Attorney Fees by A federal district court in Illinois entered an award of $163,276 in attorney fees and $12,398 in costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 to prisoner plaintiffs who won $130,000 in damages at a jury trial after being beaten by prison guards. The court …
Article • June 15, 1996 • from PLN June, 1996
Filed under: Civil Procedure, Appeals
Ninth Circuit Expands Mailbox Rule by The court of appeals for the ninth circuit has held that a prisoner's notice of appeal is timely filed as long as it is mailed within the applicable time limit; the court does not require the notice to be mailed by a method that …
Article • May 15, 1996 • from PLN May, 1996
Summary Judgment Notice Must Be Given by Court by The court of appeals for the ninth circuit has reaffirmed that when a district court considers matters outside the pleadings in ruling on the sufficiency of a complaint it must give the plaintiff notice and allow the plaintiff an opportunity to …
Article • May 15, 1996 • from PLN May, 1996
Filed under: Civil Procedure, Discovery
Dismissal of Suit for Not Attending Deposition Reversed by The court of appeals for the ninth circuit held that a prisoner appearing at a deposition hearing, but refusing to testify, was not a "failure to appear" within the meaning of Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(d). Robert Estrada, a California state prisoner, had filed …
Article • May 15, 1996 • from PLN May, 1996
Jury Power in Action by A single mother in Cleveland, Ohio went on trial for welfare fraud. She was charged with "stealing" $11,000 in cash and food stamps over a two-year period. Between June 1988 to January 1990 she is accused of working at a $6,000-a-year part time job emptying …
Complaint Need Not List Capacity Defendants Sued In by The court of appeals for the fourth circuit has held that plaintiffs suing under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 need not specifically plead in their complaint that the state officials are being sued in the individual rather than their official capacities. Instead, …
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