Case: Collins v. Reish

4:08-cv-00345 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Feb. 25, 2008

Closed Date: 2011

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 25, 2008 a group of pre-trial detainees at Northumberland County Prison filed suit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the Northumberland County Prison and the Northumberland County Prison Board. Their cause of action was 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and they alleged violations of the First, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Specifically they claim that there was inadequate medical care, dental care, and mental health care. They claimed…

On February 25, 2008 a group of pre-trial detainees at Northumberland County Prison filed suit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the Northumberland County Prison and the Northumberland County Prison Board. Their cause of action was 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and they alleged violations of the First, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Specifically they claim that there was inadequate medical care, dental care, and mental health care. They claimed that the facility was a life-threatening fire hazard, that there were chronic environmental problems, that the women's facility was overcrowded, that there was inadequate clothing provided, that there was no confidential space to meet with attorneys, that disciplinary and restraint procedures were unconstitutional, and that women were discriminated against in relation to outdoor exercise, work release, and other programs. They sought class certification, declaratory and injunctive relief, and attorney's fees and costs.

On June 11, 2008, the court (Judge John E. Jones III) denied the plaintiffs' motion for class certification without prejudice. On March 17, 2009, the court (Judge Jones) disposed of three pending motions that had arisen during discovery. It granted in part and denied in part the defendants' motion to dismiss, granted the plaintiffs' motion to supplement the complaint, and granted in part and denied in part the plaintiffs' motion to certify the class. The class consisted of all inmates of the Northumberland County Prison but some of the claims plaintiffs sought to have included were denied as proper claims for the class to raise.

On April 29, 2011, the court granted the parties' joint motion for a settlement agreement. The settlement stipulated that the prison would provide increased medical, dental, and mental health care. It also requires written policies and protocols relating to that care. Additionally, the settlement mandates changes to discipline and restraint practices, better conditions in the basement cells, improved heating and cooling units, extermination of pests, improved fire safety, limitations on the population in the women's dormitory, and changes to the policies in the women's dormitory concerning discipline and recreation. The court dismissed the action and retained jurisdiction for a period of 15 months after the entry of the settlement agreement.

Summary Authors

Michael Perry (4/19/2011)

Erin Chapman (2/4/2015)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4811666/parties/collins-v-reish/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Humes, Cheryl T. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Dadamo, Gary H. (Pennsylvania)

Godfrey, E. Ralph (Pennsylvania)

Hanna, Robert G. Jr. (Pennsylvania)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Barrett, Joseph Anthony (Pennsylvania)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:08-cv-00345

Docket

May 23, 2011

May 23, 2011

Docket
1

4:08-cv-00345

Complaint - Class Action

Inmates of the Northumberland County Prison v. Reish

Feb. 25, 2008

Feb. 25, 2008

Complaint
9

4:08-cv-00345

Motion for Class Certification

Inmates of the Northumberland County Prison v. Reisch

March 12, 2008

March 12, 2008

Pleading / Motion / Brief
61

4:08-cv-00345

Memorandum and Order (Denying the motion to certify the class without prejudice)

Inmates of Northumberland County v. Reisch

June 11, 2008

June 11, 2008

Order/Opinion
102

4:08-cv-00345

Memorandum and Order (Granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss, granting plaintiff's motion to supplement the complaint, and granting in part and denying in part the motion to certify the class)

Inmates of Northumberland Count v. Reisch

March 17, 2009

March 17, 2009

Order/Opinion
134

4:08-cv-00345

Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, Certificate of Service

Inmates of the Northumberland County Prison v. Reish

April 30, 2010

April 30, 2010

Pleading / Motion / Brief
158

4:08-cv-00345

Corrected Joint Motion Seeking Approval of Class Action Settlement

Inmates of Northumberland County v. Reisch

Feb. 18, 2011

Feb. 18, 2011

Pleading / Motion / Brief
158-2

4:08-cv-00345

Settlement Agreement

Inmates of Northumberland County v. Reisch

Feb. 18, 2011

Feb. 18, 2011

Settlement Agreement
161

4:08-cv-00345

Order

Inmates of the Northumberland County v. Reish

Feb. 28, 2011

Feb. 28, 2011

Order/Opinion
165

4:08-cv-00345

Order

Inmates of the Northumberland County Prison v. Reish

April 29, 2011

April 29, 2011

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4811666/collins-v-reish/

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
61

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER : Plaintiffs' Motion to Certify (doc. 9) is denied without prejudice. Plaintiffs' Motion to Expedite (doc. 36) is granted to the extent outlined in the above Memorandum. All fact discovery as to the issue of class cer tification shall be commenced in time to be completed by September 1, 2008. The scope of discovery, however, is not per se limited to class certification issues. Should they so elect, Plaintiffs shall move for class certification no later than September 15, 2008.Signed by Honorable John E. Jones, III on 6/11/08 (bw, )

June 11, 2008

June 11, 2008

RECAP
164

MEMORANDUM (eo, )

April 29, 2011

April 29, 2011

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 25, 2008

Closing Date: 2011

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates of the Northumberland County Prison

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Northumberland County Prison Board (Sunbury, Northumberland), County

Northumberland County Prison (Sunbury, Northumberland), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: 300,000

Order Duration: 2011 - None

Content of Injunction:

Monitoring

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Bathing and hygiene

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Recreation / Exercise

Restraints : physical

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run