Case: Adams v. Federal Bureau of Prisons
1:09-cv-10272 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Filed Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Closed Date: 2011
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On February 24, 2009, a prisoner serving her sentence in a facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The plaintiff, represented by public interest and private attorneys, sought declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the prison's refusal to provide medical care for plaintiff's Gender Dysphoria (GD) constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
The plaintiff was diagnosed with GD in 2005 by mental health providers employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Despite knowledge of the diagnosis, the prison refused to provide medical treatment. Following a suicide attempt and self-mutilation by the plaintiff, the prison transferred the plaintiff to an inpatient mental health unit. At the mental health unit, the plaintiff was still denied sufficient treatment, even being disciplined for continued attempts at self-mutilation. The plaintiff's complaint alleged that the prison promulgated and enforced a policy that denies prisoners with GD, including the plaintiff, individualized evaluation and constitutionally adequate treatment. Furthermore, she alleged that the prison's medical director and psychiatrist failed and refused to treat her GD.
On July 10, 2009, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint. After a motion to dismiss the amended complaint was denied, the parties entered into mediation and settlement talks. As part of the parties' settlement agreement, the Federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to issue guidance relating to the treatment of prisoners with GD. The defendant also agreed to: note in plaintiff's medical file to address her as "she", sign a declaration indicating it has no opposition to a name change, continue to provide the plaintiff with appropriate hormone treatment unless medically contraindicated, provide the plaintiff access to female commissary items, provide hair removal treatment, consult with the plaintiff regarding vocal therapy, and evaluate treatment after eighteen months.
On September 29, 2011, the court (Judge Joseph Tauro) approved the parties' stipulation of voluntary dismissal with prejudice.
Summary Authors
Priyah Kaul (11/2/2014)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4273587/parties/adams-v-federal-bureau-of-prisons/
Adebonojo, Kenneth (Massachusetts)
Bacchus, Renee A. (Massachusetts)
Bajada, Frances C. (Massachusetts)
Bennett, Michelle Renee (Massachusetts)
Bergman, Jacob Max (Massachusetts)
Adebonojo, Kenneth (Massachusetts)
Bacchus, Renee A. (Massachusetts)
Bajada, Frances C. (Massachusetts)
Bennett, Michelle Renee (Massachusetts)
Bergman, Jacob Max (Massachusetts)
Blain, Jennifer Ellen (Massachusetts)
Blutter, Sarah C (Massachusetts)
Brenton, Kyle W. (Massachusetts)
Brooker, Gregory G (Massachusetts)
Brown, Logan P. (Massachusetts)
Butler, Michael (Massachusetts)
Cargo, Shane Patrick (Massachusetts)
Chicago, AUSA - (Massachusetts)
Cohen, Nathalie Erin (Massachusetts)
Cook, Marcy Elizabeth (Massachusetts)
Coordinator, Litigation (Massachusetts)
Counsel, Bureau of (Massachusetts)
Dickey, Lauren Marie (Massachusetts)
Eskew, David Michael (Massachusetts)
Fauci, James J. (Massachusetts)
Field, Katherine Mesenbring (Massachusetts)
Giacomazzi, Mia Anne (Massachusetts)
Gov, Kristi H. (Massachusetts)
Grady, Mark J. (Massachusetts)
Grubman, Scott Robert (Massachusetts)
Hagerty, Elizabeth (Massachusetts)
Horn, Stephen M. (Massachusetts)
Kabrawala, Ameet B. (Massachusetts)
Kapnik, Benjamin I. (Massachusetts)
LA-CV, Assistant US (Massachusetts)
Lee, Jonathan U (Massachusetts)
Licht-Steenfat, Jacob (Massachusetts)
McKeon, Mark Joseph (Massachusetts)
Moskowitz, David Z. (Massachusetts)
Mundell, Melissa Stebbins (Massachusetts)
Padden, Amy L. (Massachusetts)
Pfannenschmidt, Dennis (Massachusetts)
Pinchas, David E (Massachusetts)
Plourde, T. David (Massachusetts)
Prose, Susan Begesse (Massachusetts)
Rovner, Allison (Massachusetts)
Schachner, Elliot M. (Massachusetts)
Schock, Karl L. (Massachusetts)
Simpson, D. Brian (Massachusetts)
Simpson, Donald (Massachusetts)
Soloway, Alan M. (Massachusetts)
Steiner, Logan Ann (Massachusetts)
Swauger, Melissa (Massachusetts)
Taylor, Andrea L. (Massachusetts)
Tinio, Rebecca Sol (Massachusetts)
Traskos, Kevin Thomas (Massachusetts)
Vassallo, Kristin L. (Massachusetts)
Villasenor, Juan Gonzalo (Massachusetts)
Vincent, Katherine W (Massachusetts)
Walker, Cristina (Massachusetts)
Wilson, Sarah Stevens (Massachusetts)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Resources
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4273587/adams-v-federal-bureau-of-prisons/
Last updated June 15, 2026, 7:04 a.m.
Docket for: Adams v. Federal Bureau of Prisons
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Special Collection(s):
Transgender Healthcare Access Cases
Key Dates
Filing Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Closing Date: 2011
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A prisoner in the Federal Bureau of Prisons who suffers from Gender Identity Disorder.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders)
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of Massachusetts 1:09-cv-10272
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Provide antidiscrimination training
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Suicide prevention (facilities)
LGBTQ+:
Medical/Mental Health Care:
Case Summary of Adams v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/14130/ (last updated 11/2/2014).