Filed Date: Dec. 14, 2014
Closed Date: Oct. 12, 2016
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a case about a woman who was sexually assaulted while in the custody of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). On December 16, 2014 Jane Doe sued in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, for damages she sustained and for injunctive relief to protect her from future assaults. She alleged that while in DHMH custody, in two separate facilities, she was not protected from assault, despite the fact that the Department was aware of her history of sexual abuse and her disabilities. In one case, she was the only female resident in a secure, forensic facility housing male sex offenders.
In her complaint, Jane Doe alleged violations of the following laws: state law negligence; Fourteenth Amendment Substantive Due Process, and an analogous claim under the Maryland state constitution. She was represented in the case by Venable LLP and Disability Rights Maryland. Defendants, Barbara Allgood-Hill, Brian Hepburn, David O'Neal, Gayle M. Jordan-Randolph, Joshua M. Sharfstein, Leslie A. McMillan, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Muhammed Ajanah, and Saeed Salehinia, were represented by the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Maryland. Judge William M. Nickerson presided over the case.
The complaint was amended on October 11, 2016 and the case settled on Oct. 12, 2016, the following day. Settlement terms included, among others: 1) the sum of $400,000. to Jane Doe herself as well as 24 hour staffing and support for her placement in the community; 2) policies to implement the use of a Risk Assessment Screen and Individualized Protection Plans for DHMH clients; 3) a risk assessment process for all new clients; 4) provisions around protection and treatment planning, 5) sexual abuse reporting policies; and 6) protocols for sexual abuse investigations.
The parties specifically agreed that the settlement agreement was not a consent decree and that it would not grant rights to anyone other than the plaintiff. They set its term at 5 years, and agreed to dismiss the case on its approval by the Maryland Board of Public Works and the court.
The agreement was promptly approved by the court, but there is nothing on the docket showing a dismissal. Still, given that the settlement was in 2016 and was set for 5 years, this case is closed.
Summary Authors
NDRN (5/1/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13362446/parties/jane-doe-v-maryland-department-of-health-and-mental-hygiene/
Cain, Laura L (Maryland)
Cross, Kevin A (Maryland)
Ehrhardt, Carl F (Maryland)
Hecht, Michael Lawrence (Maryland)
Gibbs, Francesca Bridgette (Maryland)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13362446/jane-doe-v-maryland-department-of-health-and-mental-hygiene/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 4:46 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 14, 2014
Closing Date: Oct. 12, 2016
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
individual with disabilities
Attorney Organizations:
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of Maryland 1:14-cv-03906
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:
Amount Defendant Pays: $400,000
Issues
Disability and Disability Rights:
Case Summary of Jane Doe v. Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/18412/ (last updated 5/1/2025).