Case: Benson v. County of Orange

8:90-cv-01964 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: 1990

Closed Date: April 22, 1993

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1990, prisoners in the Orange County jail system filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, against the County of Orange. The plaintiffs, represented by the Prisoner Rights Union and private counsel, brought suit under 42 U.S.C § 1983, challenging the constitutionality of their conditions of confinement. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief. In May of 1991, the District Court made the injunctions issued in the c…

In 1990, prisoners in the Orange County jail system filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, against the County of Orange. The plaintiffs, represented by the Prisoner Rights Union and private counsel, brought suit under 42 U.S.C § 1983, challenging the constitutionality of their conditions of confinement. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

In May of 1991, the District Court made the injunctions issued in the companion case Stewart v. Gates, 2:75-cv-03075 (C.D. Cal.) applicable in this case as well. (See the Clearinghouse entry on that case for subsequent developments related to those injunctions.)

In March of 1992, plaintiffs moved the Court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction barring the reduction of visiting time to two days a week and requiring the County to provide prisoners with easier access to plaintiffs' counsel's staff. The Court denied the motion for a temporary restraining order and held a hearing on the preliminary injunction. On April 6, 1992, the Court (Judge Gary L. Taylor) also denied that relief, finding that the reduction in visiting hours and the current access to plaintiffs' counsel's staff violated neither the Stewart orders nor the Constitution. Benson v. Cnty. of Orange, 788 F. Supp. 1123 (C.D. Cal. 1992). The case was reported closed on April 22, 1993.

Summary Authors

Christopher Schad (7/13/2012)

Abigail DeHart (3/17/2017)

Related Cases

Stewart v. Gates, Central District of California (1975)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/35619325/parties/benson-v-orange-county-of/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Herman, Richard P. (California)

Hoffman, Paul L. (California)

Jr, Charles Elmquist (California)

McClung, Charles Elmquist Jr. (California)

Stormer, Dan Lewis (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

8:90-cv-01964

Docket (PACER)

Oct. 6, 1999

Oct. 6, 1999

Docket

8:90-cv-01964

Order Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction

April 6, 1992

April 6, 1992

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/35619325/benson-v-orange-county-of/

Last updated Feb. 9, 2024, 3:28 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

FOR ALL PREVIOUS DOCKETING, REFER TO THE PAPER DOCKET (lm) (Entered: 10/06/1999)

Oct. 6, 1999

Oct. 6, 1999

FOR ALL PREVIOUS DOCKETING, REFER TO THE PAPER DOCKET (lm)

Oct. 6, 1999

Oct. 6, 1999

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

California Jail Population Caps

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1990

Closing Date: April 22, 1993

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Prisoners in the Orange County jail system

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Hadsell, Stormer & Renick

Prisoners Rights Union

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

County of Orange (Orange), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Non-settlement Outcome

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1991 - None

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief denied

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Conditions of confinement

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Pre-PLRA Population Cap

Type of Facility:

Government-run