Filed Date: Nov. 19, 2009
Closed Date: 2011
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On November 19, 2009, the plaintiff, a pregnant inmate, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Montana against Lake County, its sheriff, and the medical doctor and chief officer of its detention facility, under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment and Article II, Sections 10 and 22 of the Montana Constitution. The plaintiff, represented by the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project and the ACLU of Montana, asked the court for declaratory relief, and nominal, compensatory and punitive damages.
Specifically, plaintiff claimed that the defendants unconstitutionally denied necessary medical care while she was jailed in the county detention facility. While undergoing a long-term drug addiction treatment program, the plaintiff was incarcerated in the detention facility, where she claims she was denied her prescribed medication. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff became extremely ill as a result of withdrawal from the medication and that she was eventually released from the detention facility due to medical complications.
On March 3, 2011, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the medical doctor from the lawsuit. Subsequently on March 14, 2011, the defendants moved for summary judgment. On April 4, 2011, before the court ruled on the motion, the parties agreed to settle the case, pursuant to which, Lake County adopted a policy for medical care for pregnant inmate addition to opiates. On April 5, 2011, the District Court (Judge Donald W. Molloy) dismissed the case with prejudice, with each party to pay its own costs.
Summary Authors
Christina Bonanni (10/17/2013)
Molloy, Donald W. (Montana)
Amiri, Brigitte A. (New York)
Camp, Susan Talcott (New York)
Griffing, Betsy (Montana)
Guittari, Jennifer Ann (Montana)
Kasdan, Diana (New York)
Munro, Gregory S (Montana)
Cooney, Dee Ann (Montana)
Johnson, C.J. (Montana)
Kalkstein, Gary (Montana)
Molloy, Donald W. (Montana)
Amiri, Brigitte A. (New York)
Camp, Susan Talcott (New York)
Griffing, Betsy (Montana)
Guittari, Jennifer Ann (Montana)
Kasdan, Diana (New York)
Munro, Gregory S (Montana)
Cooney, Dee Ann (Montana)
Johnson, C.J. (Montana)
Kalkstein, Gary (Montana)
Sehestedt, Michael W (Montana)
Last updated May 12, 2022, 8 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Montana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 19, 2009
Closing Date: 2011
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Pregnant inmate addicted to opiates.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Lake County (Polson, Lake), State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Constitutional Clause(s):
Availably Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Amount Defendant Pays: 0
Issues
General:
Affected Gender:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: