Case: United States v. County of Maricopa

2:99-cv-02137 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: Dec. 6, 1999

Closed Date: Nov. 27, 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 2, 1995, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a notice letter to Maricopa County Jails, notifying the Board of Supervisors of the government's intention to investigate the conditions in jails overseen by the County. A findings letter was sent to the Board on March 25, 1996, in which the DOJ condemned the unconstitutional conditions present at the outdoor jail facility Tent City, and the intake section of the Madison Street Jail. The DOJ found that a d…

On August 2, 1995, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a notice letter to Maricopa County Jails, notifying the Board of Supervisors of the government's intention to investigate the conditions in jails overseen by the County. A findings letter was sent to the Board on March 25, 1996, in which the DOJ condemned the unconstitutional conditions present at the outdoor jail facility Tent City, and the intake section of the Madison Street Jail. The DOJ found that a deliberate indifference existed as to inmates' serious medical needs in these facilities, and the detention officers’ use of excessive force against inmates was “unacceptably prevalent.” Concern about stun guns was also cited in the DOJ’s report.

On June 1, 1996, an individual detained at Madison Street Jail died of asphyxiation after being tackled by 14 detention officers and placed in a restraint chair with a towel over his face. This use of force, alongside other allegations of ill-treatment of detained individuals, prompted a visit from Amnesty International to collect information on the treatment of inmates in the jails, and the conditions under which they lived. During its visit, Amnesty International received information on more than a dozen cases of alleged ill-treatment or use of excessive force, covering an 18-month period up to June 1996.

On December 6, 1999, the DOJ filed suit against the County and the County Sheriff in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The Clearinghouse does not have access to the substance of the complaint. The case was assigned to Judge Robert C. Broomfield. Alongside the complaint, the parties filed a joint motion for conditional dismissal. On June 21, 2000, the court conditionally dismissed the case, subject to defendants’ substantial compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. On September 18, 2000, the parties submitted a joint motion to dismiss the case with respect to one defendant, and the Sheriff was dismissed. On November 20, 2000, the parties submitted another joint motion, this time to dismiss the case due to settlement, which the court granted on November 27, 2000.

Summary Authors

Simran Takhar (4/9/2023)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11060316/parties/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/


Judge(s)

Broomfield, Robert Cameron (Arizona)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bartels, Robert (Arizona)

Attorney for Defendant

Duke, Cleon M. (Arizona)

Gorman, Louis Barry (Arizona)

Jones, William R. Jr. (Arizona)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:99-cv-02137

Docket [PACER]

USA v. County of Maricopa

Nov. 27, 2000

Nov. 27, 2000

Docket

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11060316/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/

Last updated Feb. 13, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT FILED (MAP) (Entered: 12/11/1999)

Dec. 6, 1999

Dec. 6, 1999

PACER
2

JOINT MOTION for Conditional Dismissal of Complaint by pla, dfts (all) [2-1] (MAP) (Entered: 12/11/1999)

Dec. 6, 1999

Dec. 6, 1999

PACER
3

Party elects assignment of case to district judge ; mag election form ddl satisfied 1/4/00 (MAP) (Entered: 01/05/2000)

Jan. 4, 2000

Jan. 4, 2000

PACER
4

MINUTE ORDER that pursuant to Local Rule 1.2(e), a request has been received for a random reassignment of this case to a District Court Judge FURTHER ORDERED Case reassigned by random draw to Judge Robert C. Broomfield All future pleadings in this action should now list the following COMPLETE case number: CIV-99-2137-PHX-RCB (cc: all counsel/RCB/SLV) [4-2] (MAP) (Entered: 01/05/2000)

Jan. 5, 2000

Jan. 5, 2000

PACER
5

Party elects assignment of case to district judge (MAP) (Entered: 01/20/2000)

Jan. 18, 2000

Jan. 18, 2000

PACER
6

ORDER by Judge Robert C. Broomfield re: motion for Conditional Dismissal of Complaint by pla, dfts (all) [2-1] [2-1]. This case is conditionally dismissed subj to dfts' substantial compliance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement. A status hearing set for 2:15 4/9/01 (cc: all counsel) (former emp) Modified on 08/29/2000 (ADI-ICMS, ). (Entered: 06/21/2000)

June 21, 2000

June 21, 2000

PACER
7

JOINT MOTION to dismiss case by USA and Joe Arpaio [7-1] (former emp) (Entered: 09/20/2000)

Sept. 18, 2000

Sept. 18, 2000

PACER
8

ORDER by Judge Robert C. Broomfield: Having read and considered the USA's and dft Arpaio's joint mtn for dismissal and good cause appearing therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that dft Joe Arpaio is dismissed from this case. terminating party Joe Arpaio (cc: all counsel) (former emp) (ADI-ICMS, ). (Entered: 09/21/2000)

Sept. 21, 2000

Sept. 21, 2000

PACER
9

JOINT MOTION to dismiss case (due to settlement) [9-1] (former emp) (Entered: 11/22/2000)

Nov. 20, 2000

Nov. 20, 2000

PACER
10

ORDER by Judge Robert C. Broomfield granting motion to dismiss case (due to settlement) [9-1] (cc: all counsel) (former emp) (ADI-ICMS, ). (Entered: 11/27/2000)

Nov. 27, 2000

Nov. 27, 2000

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Arizona

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 6, 1999

Closing Date: Nov. 27, 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Maricopa County (Maricopa), County

Maricopa County Sheriff (Maricopa), Private Entity/Person

Maricopa County (Maricopa), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Conditional Dismissal

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Conditions of confinement

Pattern or Practice

Restraints : physical

Totality of conditions

Policing:

Excessive force

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Disability and Disability Rights:

Mental Illness, Unspecified

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Medical care, unspecified

Mental health care, general

Mental health care, unspecified

Type of Facility:

Government-run