Case: Dotson v. Satterfield

1:87-cv-03123 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Nov. 18, 1987

Closed Date: Oct. 3, 1998

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Plaintiffs brought a section 1983 class action on their own behalf and on behalf of all present and future inmates in the Dorchester County Detention Center seeking injunctive and declaratory relief for deprivations of constitutionally guaranteed rights. Plaintiffs alleged numerous deficiencies of the Detention Center regarding issues such as shelter, food, sanitation, personal safety, medical care, visitation, and access to courts. In 1988, the District Court in Maryland (Judge Joseph C. How…

Plaintiffs brought a section 1983 class action on their own behalf and on behalf of all present and future inmates in the Dorchester County Detention Center seeking injunctive and declaratory relief for deprivations of constitutionally guaranteed rights. Plaintiffs alleged numerous deficiencies of the Detention Center regarding issues such as shelter, food, sanitation, personal safety, medical care, visitation, and access to courts. In 1988, the District Court in Maryland (Judge Joseph C. Howard) approved a consent decree memorializing a negotiated settlement between the parties. The decree stipulated that the court would retain jurisdiction until defendants implemented the substantive terms of the agreement, including creation of a pre-trial release program and work release program; higher standards for food services, staffing requirements, population control, fire safety, sanitation, classification, recreation, visitation, medical care; and an agreement to defer the issue of access to the courts for trial if necessary.

In 1992, the District Court re-opened the case, and defendants brought American Risk Pooling and the Coverx Corporation, defendant's insurance companies, into the suit as third-party plaintiffs. The court (Chief Judge Benson E. Legg) held that defendant's insurance policy did not cover attorney's fees for a suit in which damages were not sought. On appeal, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court's decision in a per curium, unpublished opinion. Dotson v. Chester, 1994 U.S. App. LEXIS 28279 (4th Cir. 1994). The docket for this case is available for 1992 through 1994.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/19/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Ervin, Samuel James III (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Aiyetoro, Adjoa A. (District of Columbia)

Goering, Susan (Maryland)

Attorney for Defendant

Brown, Michael A. (Maryland)

Gillece, James Patrick Jr. (Maryland)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1:87-cv-03123

Docket [PACER]

Nov. 4, 1994

Nov. 4, 1994

Docket

90-06858

90-06900

Opinion

Dotson v. Chester

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

July 11, 1991

July 11, 1991

Order/Opinion

937 F.2d 920

94-01194

Opinion

Dotson v. Chester

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Oct. 12, 1994

Oct. 12, 1994

Order/Opinion

37 F.3d 1493

1:87-cv-03123

Complaint

Nov. 19, 1997

Nov. 19, 1997

Complaint

1:87-cv-03123

Stipulated Settlement Agreement

Oct. 3, 1998

Oct. 3, 1998

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2025, 8:29 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
191 Feb. 26, 1992

ORDER dated 02/26/92 "GRANTING" Motion of defendant County Commissioners of Dorchester County to join American Risk Pooling Consultants, Inc. and Cover X Corp. as third-party defendants to declaratory judgment action (See pleading #188 on hard docket sheet) ( signed by Judge Joseph C. Howard ) (c/m 02/27/92 vab) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/28/1992)

PACER
192 Feb. 26, 1992

THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINT by Lemuel Chester, Jack Colburne, Charles Dayton, William I. Wingate, Calvin Travers against Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/09/1992)

PACER
Feb. 26, 1992

Case reopened (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/28/1992)

PACER
Feb. 26, 1992

FOR PLEADINGS 1 THRU 190 SEE ORIGINAL HARD DOCKET SHEET (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/28/1992)

PACER
193 March 2, 1992

THRID PARTY SUMMONS(ES) issued for Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/09/1992)

PACER
194 March 11, 1992

THIRD PARTY SUMMONS(ES) issued for Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. (slf, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/17/1992)

PACER
195 March 20, 1992

MOTION with memorandum in support by Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. to Dismiss Third Party Complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction , Attachment, Affidavit, and Request for hearing. (c/s Mag. J. Chasanow) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/08/1992)

PACER
196 April 8, 1992

ORDER granting [196-1] motion to Extend Time to respond to third party defendants motion to dismiss no later than April 20, 1992. ( signed by Judge Joseph C. Howard ) (c/m 4/8/92 ph) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/15/1992)

PACER
196 April 8, 1992

MOTION by defendant, County Commissioners of Dorchester County to Extend Time to respond to third party defendants motion to dismiss (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/15/1992)

PACER
197 April 27, 1992

RESPONSE by defendant County Commissioners of Dorchester County to [195-1] motion to Dismiss Third Party Complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction and Exhibit A. (c/s Mag. J. Chasanow and chambers) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 04/30/1992)

PACER
198 April 30, 1992

ORDER REFERRING CASE dated 04/24/92 to Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for purpose of hearing and determination of non-dispositive pretrial mattes as ALL and hearing, proposed findings of fact, and making recommendations as to dispositive pretrial matters as ALL. ( signed by Judge Joseph C. Howard ) (c/m 04/30/92 hsg) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/08/1992)

PACER
199 May 11, 1992

REPLY by Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. to response of Third party plantiffs to their [195-1] motion to Dismiss (c/s) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 05/25/1992)

PACER
200 Sept. 8, 1992

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS of Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Chasanow . Case no longer referred to Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Chasanow Objections to R and R due by 9/18/92 (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/09/1992)

PACER
201 Sept. 17, 1992

OBJECTION by Amer. Risk Pooling, The Coverx Corp. to [200-1] report and recommendations. (c/s) (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/19/1992)

PACER
202 Sept. 18, 1992

OBJECTION by third party Plaintiff County Commissioners of Dorchester Co. to [200-1] report and recommendations. (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 09/21/1992)

PACER
204 Sept. 29, 1992

RESPONSE by Lemuel Chester, Jack Colburne, Charles Dayton, William I. Wingate, Calvin Travers in opposition to [201-1] objection. (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/19/1992)

PACER
Oct. 15, 1992

CASE reassigned from Judge Howard to Judge Benson E. Legg. (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/16/1992)

PACER
203 Oct. 16, 1992

Reassignment letter mailed to Counsel. (cag, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 10/16/1992)

PACER
Nov. 4, 1992

Chambers conference set on November 18, 1992 at 4:00 before Legg, J. (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/05/1992)

PACER
205 Nov. 16, 1992

MEMORANDUM "NOTIFYING" counsel that conference with counsel in chambers scheduled for November 18, 1992 at 4:00 p.m. will instead by held on Thursday November 19, 1992 at 4:00 p.m. ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg November 12, 1992). (c/m 11/13/92-bw) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/23/1992)

PACER
206 Dec. 10, 1992

MOTION by Michael N. Dotson and Wayne Musgrove for Susan Goering to Withdraw as Attorney . (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/10/1992)

PACER
207 Dec. 10, 1992

ORDER granting [206-1] motion of plaintiffs for Susan Goering to Withdraw as Attorney (Terminated attorney Susan Goering for Wayne Musgrove, attorney Susan Goering for Michael N. Dotson ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg November 23, 1992). (c/m 12/9/92-bw) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/10/1992)

PACER
208 Dec. 10, 1992

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting [206-1] motion of plaintiffs for Susan Goering to Withdraw as Attorney; "OVERRULING" objections of third-party defendant to Mag. Chasanow's report and recommendations; "ACCEPTING" Mag. Chasanow's report and recommendatation dated 9/8/92; denying [195-1] motion of the third-party defendants to Dismiss Third Party Complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction; "DIRECTING" Mr. Karp to advise this court, in writing, on or before 12/11/92, of the proper party defendants and file a line amending the pleadings, as therein set forth; "DIRECTING" Mr. Karp to respond to the declaratory judgment on or before 12/23/92 and Ms. Phillips and Mr. Gillece to file a rebuttal on or before 1/8/93; and "BIFURCATING" the proceedings, as therein set forth ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg December 8, 1992). (c/m 12/9/92-bw) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) Modified on 12/14/1992 (Entered: 12/10/1992)

PACER
209 Dec. 23, 1992

ANSWER to Complaint by Amer. Risk Pooling (American Justice Insurance Reciprocal) (Attorney Daniel Karp). (Received on 12/16/92) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) Modified on 12/23/1992 (Entered: 12/23/1992)

PACER
210 Dec. 23, 1992

MOTION with memorandum in support by Amer. Risk Pooling (American Justice Insurance Reciprocal) to Dismiss , or in the alternative for Summary Judgment , attachments and request for hearing. (c/s) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) Modified on 12/23/1992 (Entered: 12/23/1992)

PACER
211 Jan. 11, 1993

MEMORANDUM by Lemuel Chester, Jack Colburne, Charles Dayton, William I. Wingate and Calvin Travers in opposition to [210-1] motion of third party defendant, American Justice Insurance Reciprocal, to Dismiss and [210-2] motion of the third party defendant, American Justice Insurance Reciprocal, for Summary Judgment and Exhibits A thru G. (c/s) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/12/1993)

PACER
212 Jan. 20, 1993

REPLY by Amer. Risk Pooling to response of third party defendant to [210-1] motion of Amer. Risk Pooling to Dismiss and [210-2] motion of Amer. Risk Pooling for Summary Judgment, attachments and reques for hearing. (c/s) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/20/1993)

PACER
213 Nov. 22, 1993

MOTION by Amer. Risk Pooling to substitute third-party defendants . (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/23/1993)

PACER
213 Nov. 22, 1993

ORDER granting [213-1] motion of third-party defendant to substitute third-party defendants ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg Noember 19, 1993). (c/m 11/19/93-bw) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 11/23/1993)

PACER
215 Jan. 7, 1994

ORDER granting [210-2] motion of third-party defendant for Summary Judgment; "ENTERING" judgment in favor of third-party defendant and against third-party plaintiffs; and "DIRECTING" the clerk to close this case ( signed by Judge Benson E. Legg 1/7/94) (C/M 1/7/94-BW) (MICROFILMED 1/10/94) (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/10/1994)

PACER
Jan. 7, 1994

Case closed. (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 01/11/1994)

PACER
216 Jan. 24, 1994

NOTICE OF APPEAL by Lemuel Chester, Jack Colburne, Charles Dayton, William I. Wingate, Calvin Travers . Fee Status: filing fee paid Appeal record due on 2/23/94 (c/s 1/26/94 akc) (jmk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/01/1994)

PACER
217 Jan. 27, 1994

Copy of Docketing Statement of Appellants. (jmk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/10/1994)

PACER
Feb. 1, 1994

Notice of appeal and certified copy of docket to USCA: [216-1] appeal by Calvin Travers, William I. Wingate, Charles Dayton, Jack Colburne, Lemuel Chester (d/s & TPOF mailed to counsel). (jmk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 02/01/1994)

PACER
218 March 3, 1994

Certificate of Clerk certifying record as complete for appeal purposes for [216-1] appeal (copy) (jmk, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 03/03/1994)

PACER
219 Nov. 4, 1994

JUDGMENT OF USCA (certified copy) Re: [216-1] appeal by Calvin Travers, William I. Wingate, Charles Dayton, Jack Colburne, Lemuel Chester "Affirming" the Judgment of the District Court, bill of costs and copy of opinion attached hereto. (mdd, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/09/1994)

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 18, 1987

Closing Date: Oct. 3, 1998

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

all present and future inmates in the Dorchester County Detention Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

County

Dorchester County Jail

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Due Process

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 1:87-cv-03123

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 94-01194

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 90-06858

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 90-06900

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Crowding (General)

Law library access

Recreation / Exercise

Suicide prevention (facilities)

Visiting

Medical/Mental Health Care:

Medical care, general

Recommended Citation