Summary Judgment Improper, Proof of State-Enforced "Custom" States Claim by Summary Judgment Improper, Proof of State-Enforced "Custom" States Claim The U.S. Supreme Court reversed and remanded a district court's dismissal of a federal civil rights action, holding that it was improper because defendant's materials did not sufficiently negate plaintiff's allegations. …
Cell Search Ordered By Prosecutor Actionable Under Fourth Amendment by The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that a prisoner in New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center retained sufficient Fourth Amendment rights to challenge a cell search initiated by the prosecution in his criminal case. Three defendants appealed …
$750 Award in Prison Failure to Protect Prisoner Suit by Alfredo Bonilla, a prisoner at the Clinton Correctional Facility (CCF), filed a suit against CCF for failing to prevent an attack on him by two other prisoners. On 2-16-00, while Bonilla was housed at CCF's main institution, a prison guard …
N.Y. Detainee Rights Upheld Under Due Process by The Supreme Court of New York held that any restraints imposed upon pre-trial detainees in excess of assuring their attendance at trial constituted deprivation of due process, which included limitations on telephone use, receiving and sending letters, non-contact visiting periods, the receipt …
Prisoners Have Right to Impartial Hearing Officer and to be Informed of Adverse Evidence in Disciplinary Hearings by Prisoners Have Right to Impartial Hearing Officer and to be Informed of Adverse Evidence in Disciplinary Hearings The Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that prisoners have the right to a hearing …
Separate Religious Accommodations for N.Y. Shi'a Muslim Prisoner Order by The New York Supreme Court, Dutchess County, ordered the New York Department of Correctional Services (NYDOCS) to provided separate religious accommodations for Shi'a Muslim prisoners. A prisoner at Fishkill Correctional Facility challenged NYDOCS's policy of considering Shi'a Muslim and Sunni …
Jail Policies Regarding HIV Infected Prisoner Unconstitutional by The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York held that certain practices of the Erie County (New York) Holding Center regarding the handling of an HIV-infected prisoner violated New York State law and the U.S. Constitution. Former prisoner Louise …
New York Prisoner Wins Medical Neglect Law Suit by The US Court Of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a District Court's dismissal of a complaint filed by a prisoner at the Attica Prison in New York. The prisoner filed the complaint because he was transferred back to the prison …
No Immunity In Denial Of Presence During Disciplinary Hearing by The US Court Of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that the US District Court did not properly address the qualified immunity defense of Department Of Corrections (DOC) officials. A prisoner at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in New York …
New York Prisoner Entitled to Reasons for Witnesses Refusal to Testify at Disciplinary Hearing by New York Prisoner Entitled to Reasons for Witnesses Refusal to Testify at Disciplinary Hearing The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, held that a prisoner is entitled to have established a witness' reasons for refusing …
$500 Paid in NY Prisoner Medical Negligence Claim. by Willie Sykes, a Sing Sing Correctional Facility prisoner at the time of trial, complained of pain in his heels at Downstate Correctional Facility, and staff advised him to see a podiatrist when he got to the next facility. Ten days later …
Class Certified in New York Jail Post Riot Retaliation Suit by A New York federal district court held that class certification is proper when common issues of fact and law predominate; a federal forum is proper when federal constitutional and statutory violations are alleged; and the prisoners in this action …
Due Process Requires Contact Visits for Female Detainees by The New York Court of Appeals held that contact visits of reasonable duration is required by the due process clause of the State Constitution. Three female detainees filed a class action against the Monroe County Jail for prohibiting pretrial detainees contact …
Excessive Violence States Eighth Amendment Claim by Prisoner filed class action suit alleging an excessive level of prisoner- prisoner and staff-prisoner violence at the Correctional Institute For Men (CIFM) in New York City. The district court found (1) that evidence of persistent overcrowding, failure to classify prisoners,. excessive reliance on …
NY Property Recovery Procedures Require Notice of Procedure; Procedures May Violate Due Process by NY Property Recovery Procedures Require Notice of Procedure; Procedures May Violate Due Process The Second Circuit Court of Appeals held a prisoner stated a due process claim for the refusal of police officials to return his …
NY Prisoner's Right to Practice Religion was Violated by In an unpublished opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that pro se prisoners proceeding in forma pauperis were "entitled to rely on service by the U.S. Marshals." A New York prisoner filed a suit against the …
Qualified Immunity for Rockerfeller in Attica Prison Riot by The Second Circuit held that Governor Rockerfeller enjoyed qualified immunity even though he authorized armed force to retake the Attica prison. Akil Al-jundi was on D-yard of Attica prison in 1971 when armed state police and prison guards stormed the facility, …
Second Circuit Partly Reinstates Prisoner's §1983 Claims by Second Circuit Partly Reinstates Prisoner's §1983 Claims The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated parts of a New York prisoner's 42 U.S.C. §1983 claims against various staff in New York's Department of Correctional Services (DOCS). In so doing, the court reaffirmed …
New York: Nassau County Settles With Assaulted Prisoner For $98,500 by On February 27, 2001, Nassau County, New York, settled with a former prisoner who had been assaulted by another prisoner for $98,500. While imprisoned in the Nassau County Correctional Facility on a 90-day sentence for DUI, plaintiff Darrin Rydberg …
New York: State Liable For Damages In Prisoner's Fall by On June 6, 2003, the Court of Claims, Rochester, held that the State of New York was liable for injuries a prisoner sustained when he slipped and fell in water that leaked onto his cell floor from the shower. Gary …
