Filed Date: April 28, 2020
Closed Date: Sept. 14, 2020
Clearinghouse coding complete
On April 28, 2020, three individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 due to age and/or underlying medical conditions sued the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Fresno Police Department, claiming that the defendant’s requirement of in-person registration for sex offenders violate COVID-19 related orders. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiffs brought this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, an injunctive action, and a declaratory action under 28 U.S.C. § 2201.
Plaintiffs alleged that the requirement violated their Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment as their 30-day, 90-day or annual in-person registration exposed them to a risk of contracting COVID-19 when the California Sex Offender Registration Act did not require in-person updates. The plaintiffs sought a judgment declaring that the California law did not require in-person registrations, injunctive relief to halt the practice during the pandemic, and attorneys’ fees. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and assigned to Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on May 4, with an additional plaintiff.
On May 13, the plaintiffs filed a motion for temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting the defendants from requiring in-person registration for periodic updates until a hearing on the preliminary injunction could be held.
On May 27, the district court denied the TRO, finding that the plaintiffs' request for a TRO was based on facts prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and before implementation of social distancing and other public health measures. 2020 WL 2745718. In rejecting the request, the court noted that the defendants' response outlined the changes made to the personal presentment process, which requires no contact, is socially-distanced and takes place outdoors.
On September 14, the plaintiffs stipulated to dismiss the entire action with prejudice and Judge Peterson issued an order closing the case.
Summary Authors
Averyn Lee (9/22/2020)
Chandler Hart-McGonigle (11/15/2020)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17199253/parties/doe-1-v-hall/
Drozd, Dale Alan (California)
Bellucci, Janice Madelyn (California)
Cederborg, Daniel C. (California)
Hawkins, Scott Charles (California)
Peterson, James Donald (Wisconsin)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17199253/doe-1-v-hall/
Last updated April 22, 2025, 1:46 p.m.
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 28, 2020
Closing Date: Sept. 14, 2020
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Three individuals seeking suspension to in-person registration for sex offenders in light of COVID-19.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Fresno County Sheriff (Fresno), County
Fresno Police Department (Fresno), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General/Misc.:
COVID-19: